1. Tiger hits a ball on top of the Clubhouse at Firestone. Loses his ball. Manages to get a free drop and no penalties?

 

2. Tiger gets the fans to move a GIGANTIC boulder after getting a ruling it is a movable objecct.

 

3. Stadler uses a towel to keep his pants dry, gets penalized for "improving his stance."

 

 

 

Solutions:

 

Tigers ball was not lost. it was taken by an outside agency who was found and the ball was replaced where he picked it up. He got a free nothing that you would not have been entitlted to

 

1. The ball was not found within the time limit. They had video of the guy "appearing" to take it, but Tiger did not identify his ball within the required time period.

 

2. He did not play it from where the guy took it. That would have required a shot over the Firestone Clubhouse. Instead, they ruled he was entitled to a drop on the greenside side of the clubhouse.

 

Because of the local rule, I believe this part of the rule was OK, just Bizarre.

 

THE DECISION:

 

.The "outside agency" wasn't found until after the ruling was made. As a matter of fact, the ruling was made BEFORE anyone heard that the baker's helper might have picked up the ball.
If they knew in advance it would have been a correct decision.

 

*The official didn't have any knowledge of the baker's helper taking the ball but made the ASSUMPTION the ball was within the confines of the club house.

 

.It doesn't matter if the ball was found or not. The ruling does not change. There is no need to find the ball. That's why it is called Ball LOST in Immovable Obstruction. If you find it, it is NOT LOST.

 

b. Ball Lost in Immovable Obstruction
If a ball is lost in an immovable obstruction, the spot where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the obstruction must be determined and, for the purpose of applying this Rule, the ball is deemed to lie at this spot and the player may take relief as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot through the green, the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take relief as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(i). (ii) In a Bunker: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot in a bunker, the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take relief as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(ii). (iii) In a Water Hazard (including a Lateral Water Hazard): If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot in a water hazard, the player is not entitled to relief without penalty. The player must proceed under Rule 26-1. (iv) On the Putting Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable obstruction a