Is it time to freshen up a few PGA rules?

First it was Dustin Johnson's bizarre two stroke penalty at the PGA Championship that kept him out of what would have been a terrific three way playoff at Whistling Straits. He grounded his club in what officials determined was a bunker on the closing hole.

The so-called bunker had been trashed, trampled and littered by spectators all week long. Dustin said he never considered it a bunker but the official call remained and set off a mini media frenzy in the process.

"I just thought it was on a piece of dirt the crowd had trampled down," Johnson remarked. "Never thought it was a sand trap. I looked at it a lot. Never once thought it was a bunker."

Too bad for Dustin...

Then came Jim Furyk's disqualification from the Barclays Tournament at Ridgewood Country Club, after he overslept and missed his 7:30 a.m. pro-am tee time Wednesday. Jim said he set the alarm on his cell phone but the phone lost power overnight. He arrived at the course at 7:35 a.m. with no chance of reaching his pro-am group for the 7:30 a.m. shotgun start.

"I'm kicking myself," Furyk said. "I have a way of climbing into situations that are all my fault."

See ya, Jim...

And then there was the news about Juli Inkster getting the toss from the Safeway Classic when a TV viewer saw her using a doughnut shaped swing training weight while she was waiting on the tenth tee box. The inauspicious TV viewer emailed the infraction into the tournament officials and as Juli wrapped up her round she got the boot. She was just three strokes off the lead.

Juli said, "I had a 30-minute wait and I needed to loosen up. It had no effect on my game whatsoever, but it is what it is. I'm very disappointed."

Bye bye, Juli...

I for one was bummed that Dustin got the two-stroke penalty. It would have been cool to see a three way playoff battle at the PGA. Jim Furyk made a little mistake. So who hasn't. Would a five minute delay wreck the pro-am? And Juli, being the seasoned veteran, really should have known better. But it was a detail that had no impact on the competition. And what up with the TV creep who blew the whistle. That's just weird.

Okay... Let's us hear your opinion. Is it time for the PGA to loosen up and chill on some of the rule minutia or should everyone be subject to the strictest standards, no questions asked.

Comments

[Free Birthday Golf]

I don't think you are comparing like for like here. Johnson and Inkster contravened actual Rules of Golf during the course of playing. Whereas Furyk was guilty only of contravening a PGA Tour rule of conduct.
My sympathies are with Furyk but the other two really should have known the rules.

[noisemaker]

True... All three of them should have been more keenly aware of their own circumstance. Rules are rules ...but don't you agree that the consequences are bit harsh?