The CSGA Links Volume 1 Issue 5 August, 2013 | Page 37

Play by the Rules! The attraction of the game of golf by PGA Tour professionals and weekend hackers alike is the fact that everyone plays by the same rules, and everyone is their own referee. Simply put, there is no cheating in golf! However, even the best players in the world are guilty of an unintentional, but costly violation. In this edition, we begin our countdown of the most infamous rules violations by the sport’s top professionals that had devastating consequences. 10 Check and Double-Check Perhaps the most famous scorecard violation in the history of the game occurred at the 1968 Masters. After shooting a ?nal round 65 that catapulted him into a tie for the lead, Roberto De Vicenzo of Argentina signed an incorrect scorecard. His round included a birdie 3 on the par-4 17th hole, but his marker, Tommy Aaron, had recorded a 4 on his scorecard. De Vicenzo carelessly signed the card without checking the hole-by-hole scores, which resulted in a round of 66. Since the score was higher, he was not disquali?ed, but missed the playoff by a single shot. 9 Timing is Everything At the 1940 U.S. Open, Ed (Porky) Oliver shot a 71 in the ?nal round for a 287 total to apparently get into a playoff with Lawson Little and Gene Sarazen. But he was disquali?ed, along with ?ve others, for starting his ?nal round ahead of schedule. Oliver began his ?nal round in contention to win his ?rst Major Championship. At the time, the 3rd and 4th rounds were played over one day, and with a storm brewing, Oliver, along with ?ve others, dashed to the ?rst tee with hopes of ?nishing before the weather hit. A marshal had told the players not to start before their scheduled tee time, but the players ignored the instructions and teed off anyway. Although all six players were disquali?ed after the round for violation of Rule 6-3a. Oliver was the one who suffered most, missing out on the playoff and a chance at winning his ?rst U.S. Open. 8 What a Waste In the 2010 PGA Championship, Dustin Johnson held a share of the lead standing on the 18th tee. After hitting his tee shot to the right into what appeared to be a waste bunker, he grounded his club. After review, of?cials deemed the area to be a bunker, and assessed Johnson a two stroke penalty, which knocked him out of a potential playoff won by Martin Kaymer. Connecticut State Golf Association 37