It was the talk of The Open.......... Shane Lowry was handed a two-stroke penalty during the second round at Royal Portrush after his ball moved slightly during a practice swing on the 12th hole. His club appeared to brush a branch, causing the ball to shift—a violation under Rule 9.4. Though the movement was subtle, it was deemed visible to the naked eye, making it a penalty. Because Lowry didn't replace the ball before hitting, the ruling was upgraded to two strokes for playing from the wrong spot. The ruling has sparked debate among players and commentators. Many questioned whether such minor, unintentional movement—only noticeable via zoomed-in replay—should warrant punishment. Critics say relying on broadcast footage creates inconsistency, especially for players not always on camera. Marcela Smith, USGA Advanced Rules Certified explains what we need to know.

Posted by Instruction Editor at 2025-07-23 18:11:39 UTC