USGA and R&A will finally stop accepting rule violations from viewers at home

USGA and R&A will finally stop considering rule violations from viewers at home

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA - APRIL 02: Lexi Thompson (L) walks off the 18th green, as So Yeon Ryu of the Republic of Korea celebrates with her caddie after Ryu defeated Thompson in a playoff during the final round of the ANA Inspiration at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club on April 2, 2017 in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Finally, golf’s governing bodies have taken a stance against wannabe rules officials governing from their couch.

Inexplicably, rule violation calls from television viewers have been allowed to alter the results of pro golf tournaments. Last spring, an email from a viewer gave Lexi Thompson a four-stroke penalty and led to a loss in a playoff at the ANA Inspiration. Apparently, the violation occurred during the third round, and a viewer emailed the LPGA about it.

On Monday, the USGA and R&A announced that calls or emails from viewers looking to report a rules violations will no longer be taken. The new rules will take effect on Jan. 1, and the world’s major tours — the PGA Tour, the LPGA, the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour and the PGA of America — have all agreed to them.

David Rickman of the R&A released a statement on the matter:

"This has clearly become an important issue in the sport that we felt we should address at this stage ahead of the implementation of the updated Rules of Golf in 2019.We have concluded that whilst players should continue to be penalized for all breaches of the Rules during a competition, including any that come to light after the score card is returned, an additional penalty for the score card error is not required."

As expected, Thompson was happy to hear about the new rules regarding couch officials.

https://twitter.com/Lexi/status/940216003891474433

That a rule banning calls or emails from off-the-premises during golf tournament was even necessary is a little sad. Now only the options available on site, including players, caddies, marshals, spectators and video from the television broadcast partner, will be considered when reviewing a rules violation. The integrity of the game of golf, and the self-reporting nature of it, will remain fully intact without unsolicited input from television viewers.

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What will people who have had nothing better to do when watching the world’s best golfers do now?

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