T
railing the leaders by three shots heading into the final
nine holes of the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf
Club, Rory McIlroy needed to play the best golf of his
career to have a chance to win his second consecutive major. After
hitting a 3-wood to a mere ten-feet on the par-5 10th and dropping
the putt for eagle, McIlroy was on his way. He would go on to birdie
the 13th and 17th holes, and approaching the 18th tee, held a
commanding two-shot lead.
However, inclement weather throughout the week and Sunday
morning had forced the leaders into a race against darkness, and
playing in the final group, it didn’t appear McIlroy would have the
opportunity to close out his victory. Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson,
playing in the group ahead, were just hitting their tee shots on the
reachable par-5 18th, meaning McIlroy would likely have to wait
another 10-15 minutes before hitting his tee shot. With the cloudy
overcast, it appeared the horn would blow to stop play for darkness
before McIlroy could play the final hole.
Promptly after Mickelson and Fowler hit their tee shots and
began walking, McIlroy raced to the tee and with the consent of
a Rules Official, teed off the 18th hole, sending the ball over the
heads of Mickelson and Fowler. For the casual golf fan, one can
easily wonder why McIlroy was in such a rush to play his tee shot,
and why he was entitled to do so when the group in front had not
cleared the fairway.
In accordance with Rule 6-8, when the committee has
suspended play for a non-dangerous situation, a player may continue
the play of a hole provided he/she has teed off of that hole. Many
times on the PGA Tour, you will see one of the competitors race to
the tee and tee off. In the Rules of Golf, there is also a Decision
that states so long as one