Masters 2014--Tigerless

Average Reds

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Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:
Did he ground his club?
 
The announcers are now saying - and I did not know this - that there's an "HD rule" that states that if the rules official on the course cannot see it with the naked eye, it's no longer a violation.  So they indicated that even though it's clear from the video that Couples touched the grass, he probably is not aware of it (because he wouldn't be able to feel it) and so no violation will be called.
 
I don't have a problem with this rule - it's common sense.  But again, it will be interesting to hear assholes like Faldo and Nantz and compare their attitude to last year, when Tiger's mistake and eventual application of a penalty was evidence of the decline of Western civilization. 
 

mabrowndog

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Average Reds said:
 
The announcers are now saying - and I did not know this - that there's an "HD rule" that states that if the rules official on the course doesn't see it, it's not a violation.
 
By "announcers" are you referring to the Amen Corner online stream? Because I haven't heard Nantz or anyone on the TV broadcast say shit about it yet.
 

johnmd20

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mabrowndog said:
 
By "announcers" are you referring to the Amen Corner online stream? Because I haven't heard Nantz or anyone on the TV broadcast say shit about it yet.
 
Either have I.
 

mabrowndog

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A bunch of golfers who entered the back 9 within the last hour or so at +4 have staggered:
 
Roberto Castro, now +8 after doubles at 11 & 12.
Graeme McDowell, now +6 after a double at 11.
Webb Simpson, now +5 after a bogey at 12.
Matteo Manassero, now +5 after a bogey at 10 (his 5th in the last 6 holes).
 
The cut line may well get to +5 after all.
 

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mabrowndog said:
 
By "announcers" are you referring to the Amen Corner online stream? Because I haven't heard Nantz or anyone on the TV broadcast say shit about it yet.
 
Yes. 
 
And to be fair to them, they did a good job following up on this for about 10 minutes.  And after many viewings they eventually concluded that there had been no violation, as merely touching the grass is not grounding the club. 
 
The key factor is whether the touching constitutes "testing the conditions."  And if it was so light that Couples couldn't have felt it, then I agree there's no violation.  And after looking at the replay a number of times with Zapruder-like focus, I agree with the announcers.
 

mabrowndog

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Craig Stadler was +17 after a bogey at 11, but he's since birdied 12, 13 and 15. Holy crap, that's fantastic for an old fart.
 

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cshea said:
The "HD Rule" seems to contradict the whole point of allowing people to call in infractions spotted on TV.
 
I think that's the point.  People can no longer do this.  (Or at least that's what they said, which I did not know.)
 

johnmd20

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cshea said:
The "HD Rule" seems to contradict the whole point of allowing people to call in infractions spotted on TV.
 
Which is awesome. People who call in rule infractions are pathetic.
 

mabrowndog

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Brendan DeJonge has also just jumped the cut with a double bogey at 15 moving him to +5.
 
I believe three more golfers currently at +4 or better will have to finish +5 or worse to move the cut line there.
 

cshea

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Average Reds said:
 
I think that's the point.  People can no longer do this.  (Or at least that's what they said, which I did not know.)
As far as I know, they still can call them in. The HD rule seems to just make everything a judgement call now, which could lead to more problems. The whole idea of the arm chair rules officials is dumb and unfair, but that's another story.
 

mabrowndog

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Choi is pulling a Leishman. After getting to -4 early (birdie at #2), he's dropped 6 shots through #11 with a double there his most recent flub. He's now +4 on the day and +2 for the Masters.
 

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cshea said:
As far as I know, they still can call them in. The HD rule seems to just make everything a judgement call now, which could lead to more problems. The whole idea of the arm chair rules officials is dumb and unfair, but that's another story.
 
Freddy Linn has the details right - you can still call in, but if its not something that is visible to the naked eye, it's not a violation.
 
Edit:  can we just agree to blame everything on Jim Nantz and leave it at that?
 

johnmd20

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Average Reds said:
 
Agreed.  Last year's embarrassment was apparently the inspiration for the change.
 
And Couples goes to -3.
 
When I'm watching a NCAA basketball game, I can't call in a missed call and have the score retroactively changed. The same should go for golf and I'm happy the PGA did this.
 

mabrowndog

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Manassero's bogey at 11 is his 6th in 7 holes, and he's dropped 7 strokes today to sit +6. No red marks at all today.
 

mabrowndog

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johnmd20 said:
They aren't showing Rory at all. Very little Adam Scott, too.
 
 
Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:
I'm absolutely shocked at this.  Especially given that they're both at E.
 
Maybe they're saving them for the 5:30 - 7:00 portion, after the sub-par players still on the course now are done.
 

mabrowndog

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Langer's performance is now all the more impressive:
 
Dave Shedloski ‏@DaveShedloski  1m
Bernhard Langer made the cut at age 56 with rounds of 72-74. Also battling an upper respiratory ailment. Went to see doc after his round.
 

mabrowndog

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Here's some perspective:
 
@DaveShedloski
Jason Day has 2 4-putts and a 3-putt and still it looks like he'll make the cut on the number at +4.
 

mabrowndog

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Justin Ray ‏@JRayESPNGolf  2m
Of players who finished in top-10 at last year's PGA, Jonas Blixt is -3. The rest are currently a combined +30.