[Golf Rules... Knowledge Is Power] When You Touch the Bunker Sand

Violation at Sigala Tour Championship 3R Hole 3
Self-reported for touching sand before bunker shot
2-stroke penalty if club touches sand inside bunker

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 applied, they can greatly aid in score management. These are golf rules that weekend golfers must know.

Sahis Sigala

This is a confession of conscience from a world-class golfer. Sahis Sigala (USA) is the protagonist. On the 31st (local time), during the third round of the Tour Championship, the final third event of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs (PO), he reported a rules violation that only he could have known about.

At the East Lake Golf Club (par 71) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, during the third round on the 3rd hole (par 4), he recorded a double bogey. His tee shot landed in a fairway bunker, and before taking the bunker shot, he self-reported that his club touched the sand during the backswing. Media covering the scene reported, "Even when the footage of Sigala's rules violation was replayed, it was not clearly evident." Xander Schauffele (USA), who played in the same group, was also unaware of Sigala's rules violation.

However, Sigala said, "I felt something was different from usual when taking the shot. I was sure the sand moved, so I applied a two-stroke penalty." According to golf rules, if the club touches the sand while assuming the stance to swing inside a bunker, a two-stroke penalty is incurred. Sigala casually said, "A two-stroke penalty is okay." On the 1st, in the final 4th round, he shot 7 under par 64 and finished 3rd (24 under par). Overcoming the penalty nightmare, he hit the jackpot with a prize money of $7.5 million (about 10 billion KRW).

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