I am writing my article on the new rules of golf and looking back again at the Lexi Thomson debacle over the marking of a two foot putt and the ensuing 4 shot penalties.
It’s amusing that the new rules permit the repairing of pitchmarks on the green, that video evidence can be used by officials but not as a result of the prompting of Joe Public sitting at home watching TV coverage, as happened in the Lexi case and that you can no longer get a retrospective four shot penalty, as she did. This is exception to rule 6-6d to be exact. The Lexi exception rule as I will call it. It must go down as one of the most wonderful and weird rules in the history of sport.
Ok rules are rules, but if anyone cares to take a closer look at the fascinating furore that arose over the marking of a two foot putt which occasioned this rule they may be hugely enlightened. If Lexi placed her marker behind the ball in line with the hole then my name is Santa Claus and I annually climb down chimneys with incredible ease. I hope you get my drift here. And why was she standing at right angles to the ball-hole line when she marked the putt in the first place? Hmm.
To say I’m monumentally suspicious is a gross and preposterous understatement. This has OJ Simpson barking mad parallels I’m afraid. Ian Carter a respected golf journalist even came out with the defence ‘it was under an inch’. Sorry Ian that is a nonsense comment. We are talking about a two foot putt here. Have you ever played golf? You never nor should you ever mis-mark anywhere near that.
Aside from this and away from these dark corridors of golf, I had a most enjoyable interview for my blue badge guide course and will hear from them mid April. Lovely people and I would very much like to work with them. The quid pro quo I’m not so certain about.
Afterwords I met up with Al Mailer who will no longer be caddying unfortunately. This is a huge loss for the Castle and the St Andrews Caddie Programme. Ditto, John McBride. They are top notch, straightforward guys and two of the best caddies.
Back at the caddying it’s been worryingly and strangely quiet. In fact, it’s been non-existant so far. Let’s hope I get a call soon but please not for April the first!
Bachasson fell at the second in the Gold Cup which hampered its chances of winning somewhat, but Ireland have won the Six Nations. Ollie Schneiderjans is not playing in the Masters so I will replace him in my roll up bet with Tyrrel Hatton. Interesting that Matt Wallace won the Indian Open after I tipped him after the Dunhill. Watch out for this lad. I am going to ask Mr Ladbrokes for a price on him winning a Major within five years, likewise for Ollie. Also on the Ladies Tour, Parnanong Phatlum must be in with a serious shout at the Weetabix this year.
Otherwise as ever, don’t eat yellow snow, keep your head down, swing slowly, eat healthily, smile at random strangers, perform occasional acts of kindness, be silly and crazy at certain times and of course, floss your teeth on a daily basis.