Scott Vincent in March throughout a LIV Golf occasion.
Getty Pictures
Scott Vincent seemingly knew the time. In spite of everything, a day earlier, he’d let his Instagram followers know.
“Asian Tour Worldwide Collection Morocco,” the put up to his tales confirmed.
“Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Purple Course).”
“Scott Vincent, Eugenio Chacarra, Jazz Janewattananond.”
And within the higher left-hand nook?
“Tee off 12:30 p.m. Gap #1.”
Solely Vincent reported at about 12:34 and 30 seconds.
As first reported by the Asian Tour’s Twitter account, the sequence led to a not often known as penalty and a close to disqualification for the LIV Golf professional through the occasion’s first spherical. The ruling is spelled out in Rule 5.3, which, partially, reads this manner:
“A participant’s spherical begins when the participant makes a stroke to begin their first gap (see Rule 6.1a). The participant should begin at (and never earlier than) their beginning time: Because of this the participant should be able to play on the beginning time and start line set by the Committee; a beginning time set by the Committee is handled as a precise time (for instance, 9 am means 9:00:00 am, not any time till 9:01 am).
“If the beginning time is delayed for any cause (corresponding to climate, gradual play of different teams or the necessity for a ruling by a referee), there isn’t any breach of this Rule if the participant is current and able to play when the participant’s group is ready to begin.
“Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.3a: Disqualification, besides in these three instances: Exception 1 – Participant Arrives at Beginning Level, Able to Play, No Extra Than 5 Minutes Late: The participant will get the final penalty utilized to their first gap; Exception 2 – Participant Begins No Extra Than 5 Minutes Early: The participant will get the final penalty utilized to their first gap; Exception 3 – Committee Decides that Distinctive Circumstances Prevented Participant from Beginning on Time: There is no such thing as a breach of this Rule and no penalty.”
On this case, Vincent was docked with a two-stroke penalty beneath “exception 1” — and he was 30 seconds wanting being DQ’d.
However why was he late?
Notably, one other put up to his Instagram account might have given a clue. On it, he was seen earlier within the week enjoying a gap on the match web site — however the put up famous he was doing so with rental golf equipment. What had occurred to his bag was unclear. However Thursday, the Asian Tour’s Twitter web site famous that Vincent had traveled to Casablanca — about an hour’s drive away — to get his golf equipment, and that which will have been the explanation he was late.
A short time later, although, the Twitter web site reported Vincent was nonetheless enjoying with leases.
There’s excellent news, although.
After a gap double bogey as a result of penalty, Vincent performed seven-under-par golf from there, and he was two strokes off the lead.
Another query:
Have gamers been penalized beneath the 5-minute exception? It’s uncommon. Most, in fact, attempt to keep away from a penalty earlier than even hitting a ball, and there are just a few examples of gamers merely not displaying up in any respect.
Then there’s the story of Lucas Glover from February, which you’ll learn by clicking right here, or by scrolling under. Its headline learn: “Due to wild misinterpret, main winner withdraws from Phoenix Open.”
***
Eight o’clock. And no Lucas Glover.
Eight-fifteen. And no Lucas Glover.
Eight-twenty-five.
The place’s Lucas Glover?
That was roughly the scene Thursday at TPC Scottsdale. Lucas Glover, your 2009 U.S. Open winner, was to begin play on the Waste Administration Phoenix Open at 8:26 a.m. native time off tee No. 1, solely that was apparently information to Glover. However he had a narrative.
Based on Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, Glover stated he received a name from an official round 8:25 letting him know of his plight. He had by no means missed a Tour tee time earlier than, in keeping with Hoggard. However Glover then got here clear.
“I simply mis-read my textual content messages [that listed my tee time],” Glover informed Hoggard. “I’m kicking myself however laughing at myself on the identical time.”
There’s some excellent news, although.
Glover withdrew. He didn’t must. He additionally might haven’t answered the telephone. However he did. So Ryo Hisatsune was in in his place.
Due to wild misinterpret, main winner withdraws from Phoenix Open
It’s right here the place you will have some questions, like:
— Is there a rule that covers missed tee instances?
Sure. On your buddies foursome, you get some phrases. For an occasion such because the Phoenix Open, it’s possible you’ll get one — disqualification. Rule 5.3 reads this manner:
“You have to begin at (and never earlier than or after) your beginning time. Penalty for Breach of Rule 5.3a: Disqualification.”
Notably, there are exceptions. They learn this manner:
“Exception 1 – You Arrive at Beginning Level, Able to Play, No Extra Than 5 Minutes Late: The final penalty is utilized to your first gap. Exception 2 – You Begin No Extra Than 5 Minutes Early: The final penalty is utilized to your first gap. Exception 3 – Committee Decides that Distinctive Circumstances Prevented You from Beginning on Time: There is no such thing as a breach of this Rule and no penalty.”
— Has it occurred earlier than?
Sure, errors occur.
On a fast scan, an identical prevalence occurred on the 2021 U.S. Senior Open, the place Marcus Meloan didn’t return after a three-hour storm delay, and Rule 5.3 was utilized. On the Golf Channel broadcast on the time, USGA guidelines official Ben Schade stated this:
“Following that restart, we did have a participant that was late to renew,” Schade stated on the Golf Channel broadcast. “So resumption instances, they work very a lot the identical as a beginning time that we might have originally of our spherical the place we should be able to play inside 5 minutes of that point, no later than 5 minutes of that point, to keep away from disqualification.
“If we’re inside that five-minute time, we might get a two-stroke penalty, and he can play on. So in Marcus’ case, he was not able to play inside that five-minute window of his resumption time, so he was disqualified from the competitors.”
