https://www.golfdigest.com/story/sergio-garcia-ruling-wells-fargo-2022
Another example of the PGA getting it wrong and not fixing it. Once the PGA realizes they gave a penalty stroke in error they should then remove the penalty stroke given in error. 😕
"Steve Rintoul, PGA Tour senior tournament director, offered a clarification via PGA Tour Communications after the round:"
“As Garcia entered the penalty area, a referee located on the 10th hole started a search time clock, as it appeared a search for the golf ball had begun. Unbeknownst to the referee, the players in the group were told by a TV spotter that the ball was on the far side of the creek, and at that point, Garcia spent a considerable amount of time trying to access the other side of the creek. This was not in clear view of the referee due to other players in the group playing, so the time clock was still running on the search when it should have been paused. When the ball was found by Garcia, the ferry’s three-minute search time had expired, and Garcia was informed the ball was treated as lost.”
"The tour explained that the rules committee reviewed video from the situation, and in the process discovered that Garcia should not have been timed as he was trying to traverse the creek. “To clarify, the time spent by Garcia trying to access the other side of the creek should have delayed the start of the search time clock, and the ball would have still been ‘in play’ if not for that error,” the statement read."
"Unfortunately for Garcia, the Rules of Golf prevent his score from changing despite the clarification."
