[Golf Rules... Knowledge Is Power] When a Golf Club Is Damaged

Saint Jude Championship Round 3 Hole 9 Situation
Burns throws driver after tee shot mistake, causing damage
Unable to replace equipment, completes remaining holes without driver
Club replacement allowed if broken during normal play

Golf has no referees. It is a "gentleman's sport" where golfers play by following the rules themselves. The golf rules are "assistants" created to help with play. If well understood and properly used, they can greatly aid in score management. These are golf rules that weekend golfers must know.

Sam Beomseu

Sam Burns (USA), who has won five times on the PGA Tour, suffered a loss after getting angry. On the 17th, during the third round at the 9th hole (par 4) of the FedEx St. Jude Championship (total prize money $20 million), the first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs (PO) held at TPC Southwind (par 70, 7,243 yards) in Memphis, Tennessee, he caused an incident. After pulling his tee shot to the left, he got angry and threw his driver onto the ground.

The head of his driver completely detached from the shaft, and he had to play the remaining holes without replacing the driver. The tournament officials ruled, "Burns did not break the driver during normal play but as a result of an angry action, so he cannot replace the equipment." Having failed to reduce his score in the front nine with 4 birdies, 1 bogey, and 1 double bogey, he exchanged 3 birdies and 3 bogeys in the back nine without a driver, finishing the third round with an even-par 70. Burns shot 3-under par on the final day to finish tied for 5th place (13-under par 267). He improved his FedEx Cup ranking from 29th before the tournament to 18th, making his entry into the Tour Championship, the final PO event, highly likely.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), which establish and manage golf rules worldwide, allowed the replacement of damaged clubs during a round starting from January last year. Previously, once a round began, even if a club broke or the clubface cracked, replacement was not allowed.

However, this rule was relaxed. Players can replace the club with another one. If a club is damaged while attempting a shot from a cart path or hitting a ball near a tree, it can be replaced or repaired for use. However, if the golfer intentionally damages the club out of anger, replacement is still not allowed as before.

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