Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from geoff, who began the topic concerning Rickie Fowler’s improper drop at the WGC-Mexico Championship. During Friday’s day of play, Fowler was penalised for taking a drop from shoulder height, violating the new rule which states that drops must now be made from knee height, and our members have been discussing the penalty, and rule, at length.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Krt22: “Silly rule indeed, they should have allowed for anywhere between shoulder and knee height. The knee height alone is idiotic since you need to bend over to get there and thus move the actual knee height.”
- yuraway22: “It just shouldn’t matter how you drop it, as long as you drop it, it falls through the air and strikes the ground and remains in the relief area. The R&A and the USGA need to reengage and clean up this mess. Why does it matter? Shoulder height, head height, knee height, thigh height, ankle high, get real! I think they want the ball dropped lower to ensure the ball stays within the relief area, keeping players from placing the ball after two drops. The LPGA backstopping infraction today is just another one of many examples of not enforcing the Rules. Here the Rule is enforced properly for a poorly thought out process. Backstopping is wrong, but the wording is poor at best and only describes what would occur if two payers agreed. If you carefully observe, few players drop the ball at knee height or lower. Most are slightly above the knee.”
- Matt J: “Should be knee high or higher. I’d have strong words for my caddie. This is exactly how he earns his keep.”
- ParfiveoverWater: “Yesterday I thought knee high drops were weird and silly… but after pondering and hearing several arguments from both sides… I like and accept the rule and can’t wait for the snow to melt so I can chunk an approach in a pond and experience it fully.”
Entire Thread: “Rickie Fowler’s improper drop”