David Frost at the 1999 Open at Carnoustie

His caddie has a clever idea to get a drop. Frost buys the idea, but 3 (three!) consecutive referees don't.

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Sports

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• golfrules

[jojes03]

You can visit the R&A website to see the rule and decisions. Go to randa.org

[jojes03]

You are both right and wrong in this case. The key term is reasonable. Under Decision 24-2b/17 you are correct, Obstruction interferes with abnormal stroke; abnormal stroke reasonable in circumstances. But under rule 24-2b/18 you are not entiteld to are drop. Obstruction interferes with abnormal stroke; abnormal stroke not reasonable in circumstances. Also read the exception to rule 24-2b.

[wandringhobo4321]

@jojes03 nope incorrect, a player can take a stance that HE believes is reasonable, whether it's left-handed or right-handed. If a player were to have 7 left-handed clubs and 7 right-handed clubs, then what would be a reasonable stroke? There is no rule against having a set consisting of both types of clubs. I've played the US Junior Amateur Event and gotten relief when I was attempting a left-handed shot.

[jojes03]

though use of an unnecessarily abonormal stance, swing or direction of play.

[jojes03]

You are not right in your claim. If you read rule 24-2, and in this case know that a path is an obstruction, you will find that he is not intitelt to a drop. Even not under the curcomstance you mention, like playing left handed. Read the expection to rule 24-2b "A player may not take releif under the rule if (a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other then an immovable obstruction or (b) interferance by a immovable obstruction would occur....

[wandringhobo4321]

@basfrk11 you can't judge a person's natural stance, what if Moe Norman were to take the same stance?

[wandringhobo4321]

@mat562 he could've taken a driver and it wouldn't have mattered. The player is entitled to what club he will use, and the official has absolutely no say in that matter. A right handed player can hit the ball left-handed, and if in a situation his stance is obstructed by a road, then he can get relief.

[BlueOrderRedMarauder]

I think the conditions had Frost stuffed long before this dispute reared up. Shame on the R&A for softening up Open conditions after 1999. A winning score miles into the red is, in my view, no more prized than Lawrie's over-par return to win at Carnousite this year. Panders to the whiners, softening it up, too. It's a Major for heaven's sake.

[mat562]

It's a cheeky attempt by Frost, albeit I can see his point in the circumstances. The thump out onto the path (or, at least, to the left) is the only realistic shot given the thick lie and the impossibility of reaching the fairway. I'd be tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the 8 iron shenanegans are a definite no no. Pulling out that club is, to me, an obvious attempt to bend the rules and not at all in the spirit of the game or the rules on legitimate relief.

[Nightwing690]

referee says its not a reasonable stroke, put him in the players shoes and see if he hthinks its not a reasonable stroke