Integrity at the Open
Mike Weir demonstrated his honesty and good sportsmanship
Forensic golf: Some judgement calls require close inspection —Artwork by Kris Lindblad
I would like to commend Mike Weir for his integrity at the Canadian Open on Saturday, July 25th, as well as the Royal Canadian Golf Association for their diligent attention to detail and fairness.
On the 18th hole, during the second round at Glen Abbey Golf Club—in sodden conditions—Weir lifted his ball, cleaned it and placed it down on a raised tuft of grass to the side of the ball mark. This was all kosher—as lift, clean and place was invoked for any closely mown area through the green. He may or may not have addressed the ball (he did not appear to “ground the club”), did his waggle and noticed that his ball moved.
Weir called over a rules official and told him that his ball had moved, but he did not think he had caused the movement. The official applied a penalty of one stroke and said that the ball was to be replaced. The official then had Weir finish the hole, and did a forensic video-analysis afterward. Weir did not sign his card, because to do so would hold him to his score. To incorrectly report his score would have him disqualified. Upon analysis of the available footage, it was determined that Weir had not caused the ball to move. He signed his card, got a birdie and moved on.
Revisiting the shot
But, wait! There’s more. Upon more extensive review of additional video footage by rules officials that evening, the question that Weir might had moved the ball re-surfaced. Upon viewing the footage with officials, Weir concluded that a one-stroke penalty was appropriate. Due to the fact that the committee was involved throughout the entire process, he was not disqualified for incorrect scoring.
I called Brent McLaughlin, the director of rules and competitions at the RCGA, to explore the technicalities relating to Rule 18—Ball at rest moved and Rule 18-2b—By player, partner, caddie or equipment.
Here’s the official word of Rule 18-2b:
If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke.
The ball must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.
This means that—unless it was clear that other factors such as slope or wind had moved Weir’s ball—it would need to be determined whether or not Weir had caused it to move.
“We still don’t know. No one will ever know,” said McLaughlin. “We went over and over that footage and it is inconclusive. Mike just didn’t want any question, so he took the stroke.”
McLaughlin went on to explain that in situations like Weir’s where there is inconclusive evidence, the rules of golf stipulate that any doubt should be resolved against the player.