Golf rule change will limit use of video immediately

Spurred by the “Lexi Thompson ruling,” golf’s two governing bodies issued new rules Tuesday to limit the use of video evidence.

In a joint statement, the U.S. Golf Association and R&A announced two standards, to go into effect immediately, for Rules committees to follow.

The first deals with video that reveals evidence that could not be reasonably be seen with the “naked eye,” such as when a player unknowingly touches a few grains of sand or a piece of grass in a hazard in taking a backswing. Now, if the committee concludes the player could not have seen the infraction with the “naked eye” and was unaware of the infraction, no penalty will be applied even if video technology shows otherwise.

The second standard deals with players using their “reasonable judgment” when determining a spot, point, position, line, area, distance or other location in applying the rules. Now, a player will not be held to the degree of precision that video technology can provide.

This includes replacing a ball after marking it on a green. In the final round of the ANA Inspiration earlier this month, Thompson was assessed a 4-stroke penalty for incorrectly replacing her ball on the 17th green in the third round. She was docked two strokes for playing from the wrong spot and two strokes for signing an incorrect scorecard.

A TV viewer contacted LPGA officials via email. After rules officials reviewed TV footage, they determined Thompson had incorrectly replaced her ball and deemed that to be a rules infraction. Thompson, who was leading the tournament by two shots, was informed of the decision walking to the 13th tee. She went from leading by two to trailing by two.

She eventually lost in a playoff to So Yeon Ryu.

The USGA and R&A also announced the establishment of a working group of LPGA, PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour and PGA of America representatives to begin a comprehensive review of broader video issues, including viewer call-ins.