OMG (as the trendy people say).
I am astonished to hear of such an obsequious, devious and
conniving act. (You will appreciate that I have moderated my language.)
Am I right in thinking that a putt conceded cannot be played?
(I'm thinking that your correspondent could have done this?)
In match play, I concede putts of any length whatsoever if
it's only purpose is to assist the opponent's partner. (I would concede a chip,
except that this situation hasn't yet occurred.)
On a related point I have frequently been “encouraged” by an
opponent to “come on” (as in onto the green) when my ball is the only one not
on the putting surface but not furthest from the hole. (The opponent, if asked,
would offer the tenuous excuse that this will obviate replacing the pin.)
Rather than risk a debate (and bearing in mind DiMarco's chip onto
the 72nd at Augusta in 2005*), I pre-empt the situation by saying loudly,
“pin out for me, chaps.”
*Chris DiMarco’s chip
for birdie and a win on the last hole of the 2005 Masters hit the flagstick and
rebounded 10 feet. Had the flagstick been removed prior to the chip, the
consensus is that the ball would have gone in and given DiMarco the green
jacket. He subsequently lost to Tiger Woods in a playoff.
I would value your reflections.
Lou
Dear Lou,
There is no penalty if a player holes out in match play
after his putt has been conceded. However (and this is a BIG “however”), if
this might assist his partner, the partner is disqualified from the hole
[Decision 2-4/6].
If your putt has been conceded, and you would like to try
the putt, the safest procedure is to lift your ball, wait until everyone has
completed play of the hole, and then replace your ball and try the putt.
When a putt has been conceded, anyone may lift that ball. A
player may indicate that his opponent’s putt is conceded by telling him, by
knocking it away, or by lifting the ball and handing it to him.
Order of play is more significant in match play than in
stroke play. There is no penalty in stroke play for playing out of order unless
the players agree to do so to give one of them an advantage. Such an agreement
would lead to disqualification for both players [Rule 10-2c]. There is no
penalty in match play for playing out of turn. However, if you do so, your
opponent has the right to immediately recall your stroke and make you play it
in the correct order.
In a match, therefore, if your opponents invite you to hit
first because your ball is off the green and theirs is on (even though they are
further from the hole), the choice is yours whether to accept their invitation
or wait until it is your turn. In most cases you are giving up an advantage if
you agree to play first. It can be helpful to observe the break and speed of
the green before you hit your ball. I would not want to miss the opportunity to
gain some information. If the flagstick must be removed and then replaced, so
be it. That’s part of the game.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
