[Interesting Golf Rules] "What Happens If You Put a Sticker on the Club Face?"

'Tokyo Olympics Silver' Sabatini Disqualified at RSM Classic for Illegal Attachment Ruling, Intentional Club Modification Results in 'Out'

‘Tokyo Olympic silver medalist’ Lori Sabatini was disqualified on the first day of the RSM Classic for placing a sticker on her fairway wood.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "Even monkeys fall from trees."

This is the story of a mistake by Rory Sabbatini (Slovakia), the silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics. On the 19th, during the first round of the 9th event of the 2021/2022 PGA Tour season, the RSM Classic (total prize money $7.2 million) held at the Plantation Course (Par 72, 7,060 yards) at Sea Island Resort, Georgia, USA, he caused an incident. Despite performing well with 7 birdies and 3 bogeys for a 4-under-par 68, he was disqualified.

After submitting his scorecard, he informed the rules committee that he had played with a sticker attached to the face of his fairway wood. The rules committee judged that the sticker attached to the face was an illegal attachment and decided on disqualification. Sabbatini had put a sticker on the face during practice to accurately identify the impact point, but forgot to remove it and went out to play with it, which caused the problem.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), which establishes the global golf rules, is strict about equipment rules (Golf Club Playing Rules). It stipulates, "No substance shall be attached or applied to the clubface to affect the clubhead." Adding tape or similar substances to the face is not allowed for any purpose. If a stroke is made with a club intentionally altered to change performance, disqualification is mandatory.

Players must be careful not to deform their clubs. In May 2016, Jack Blair (USA) got angry after missing a short birdie putt on the 5th hole (Par 5) of the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship and vented his frustration on his putter before holing out. The putter was slightly bent, resulting in the use of a deformed putter. According to the rule that "a club damaged outside the normal course of play cannot be used," he was immediately disqualified on the 6th hole (Par 3).

Kim Si-woo (26, CJ Logistics) created a unique scene in April during the second round of the Masters by putting with a 3-wood from the 15th hole (Par 5). Starting from the 11th hole (Par 4), his putting gradually missed, and after an approach shot near the green on the 15th hole, he slammed his putter on the ground. Since he could not use the deformed putter, he fortunately saved par on all four holes (15th to 18th) where he putted with the wood. Club damage without intent, such as from external influence or natural forces, allows for a 'no penalty replacement.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.