That's the real question isn't it? How did other players treat this area? We'll never know how others played it because most of the 100's of other shots from this area and similar ones weren't on TV. On TV it looked a lot more like a trampled, worn sandy area than any sort of a bunker, but if you caught the computer graphic of the hole where they showed DJ's shot, the ball was being shown in a bunker.

Too bad he didn't just hit it straight(er). :(

Respectfully BamBam,

NO. It doesn't matter what other players did when not on camera. What matters when applying the rules of golf is officiating what you see, using all the resourses available to you.

Fair? No

Golf is not always fair, but we can't fault the PGA for the way the situation was handled. We are being vilified for doing the proper thing.

Kevin

Ah-ha, He DID in fact ask the spectators to completely block the sun. That WAS an additional violation.

The "vindicated" Bear

wow, one of us is a really bad reader...

HE asked the spectator to block a shaft of light that was on the ground. His positioning of the spectator IS a violation.

Problem with ...???

The "Restating" Bear

My last try:

he may ask a person (e.g., a spectator) who is already in position not to move, so that a shadow remains over the ball, or to move, so that his shadow is not over the ball.

He did NOT bring someone in to position him to suit the situation, he was simply trying to keep the shadows of the crowd in place consistent and still.

The player does not have to deal with moving shadows on top of everything else going on.

Kevin

Its not the officials responsibility to tell the player! if a player is in doubt he then can ask the official. Rules officials do not say oh by the way theres hazards on this hole just to remind you and here's your options its the players responsibility the same when you go to school, play golf, play poker, go to jail everything in life the rules are laid out in simple english and here's the great thing if you dont know you can ask the 100 rules officials on the 18th hole just like Bubba Watson did who didn't know his options.

I didn't communicate clearly on my last post. It should've read "How was this particular bunker/trampled area ruled for other players that weren't on tv?". And that we may never know. You are correct; what other players do is irrelevant.

I agree with your assessment of all this 100% if that was a bunker. Based on what I saw on TV and by their definition of a bunker, I'm not convinced one way or the other. It was hard to see with all the people covering most of that ground. I've played enough golf on the dunes of Lake Michigan to know there are plenty of naturally occurring sandy areas on most lake-side/dune courses, even without thousands of people walking on the grounds.

The PGA had eyes on the ground, and they made the best call they could; I can respect that. Dustin should've hit the fairway, and given the local rule, he should've been extra cautious when he didn't.

I've played in over 100 sections events never has the rules official standing or sitting in the cart say hey there's hazards out there so her's the options- never. But when i hit a golf ball in there and i didnt know my options and asked for help they were more than helpful to point them out.

Sir- you must review the tape- He clearly positioned the spectator to make a full shadow.

I will now predict a complete disqualification - likely today.

the "stuborn" Bear