In a way, the third time was the appeal for Beau Hossler – nicely, probably not, however type of.
Hossler had given himself a possibility to win the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday night on the Nation Membership of Jackson (Mississippi). However he hooked his tee shot on the par-4 18th gap behind a tree, was denied two requests totally free aid, and regardless of lastly receiving such aid after an identical drive within the playoff, fell to Kevin Yu, who birdied the primary additional gap for his maiden PGA Tour victory.
“The primary constructive is simply getting underneath the gun and performing,” mentioned Hossler earlier than including, “I’m a bit dissatisfied with the result. I’m a bit salty proper now.”
Hossler was possible nonetheless pissed off with the occasions of the ultimate gap of regulation. Having simply birdied the par-4 seventeenth gap and with Yu birdieing up forward of him, Hossler wanted a closing birdie for the outright win, par to pressure a playoff. However he hooked his drive nicely left and watched his ball settle about 2 toes behind a tree trunk.
Upon assessing his choices – spoiler: he solely had one – Hossler referred to as a guidelines official over and implied that he warranted TIO aid from the left grandstand and scoreboard.
The one concern? That shot required an inhuman slice across the tree. And the official was having none of it.
Hossler, clearly miffed, pleaded his case a number of instances:
“Don’t I get aid if that’s between me and the pin, the grandstand and that scoreboard?”
“What if I instructed you I’m hitting this proper on the pin?”
“I’m hitting this proper on the pin.”
“What if that tree is 20 yards in entrance of me, then might I’m going at it?”
“Are you able to clarify the principles to me?”
The official started to elucidate MLR F-23, which states that gamers might “take aid when the TIO is situated on the straight line between their ball and the opening,” however that no aid will probably be given if “taking part in the ball because it lies can be clearly unreasonable due to one thing from which the participant is just not allowed to take free aid (in Hossler’s case, the tree)” or “when interference exists solely as a result of the participant chooses a membership, kind of stance or swing or course of play that’s clearly unreasonable underneath the circumstances (in Hossler’s case, the wild slice across the left aspect of the tree).”
Hossler interjected, “I desire a second opinion.”
That official denied his request, too, so Hossler was compelled to punch out proper, organising a 131-yard up-and-down to maintain his successful hopes alive.
“There was simply no reasonable means that Beau would’ve ever hit a shot in regulation anyplace than the place he simply did there,” mentioned Golf Channel analyst Sam Saunders. “So, he was not entitled to aid from these grandstands.”
Hossler responded, wedging to 4 toes and rolling within the par save, whereas his taking part in competitor, Keith Mitchell, three-putted from 35 toes on the final to overlook the playoff by a shot.
However Hossler wasn’t performed with rulings. His drive at No. 18 within the playoff hit the left cart path and bounded towards an identical spot within the tough to the place he was a couple of minutes earlier. This time, although, Hossler was not behind a tree, and this time, he was entitled to TIO aid.
Nonetheless, Hossler was not out of the woods. He nonetheless needed to navigate some branches, and his low hook round them splashed within the front-left greenside bunker.
Yu discovered the inexperienced, transformed his quick birdie and ended Hossler’s run.
“Although I didn’t have my finest stuff on the again 9, I grinded actually laborious,” Hossler mentioned. “Hit some actually high quality pictures underneath the gun, and that’s all you are able to do. Clearly, Kevin performed a lovely gap within the playoff. … Positively stings, however you bought to tip your hat.”
