PGA clears Cink of rules violation in playoff
BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2004 MCI Heritage | Final Round | 21 Apr 2004
On the fifth playoff hole (No. 16) at last week’s MCI Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, Stewart Cink’s tee ball landed in an area designated as a waste area.
As Cink moved toward his ball, he inquired of Slugger White, the TOUR’s on-site tournament director, what his options were under the Rules of Golf. White informed him that under Rule 23-1 he was entitled to remove loose impediments behind his ball. Cink did so, and proceeded to hit his second shot to the green.
A short time later, after Cink had holed his birdie putt for the victory, it was brought to the attention of the Rules Committee that Cink had potentially committed a rules violation in the waste area prior to hitting his second shot.
White, accompanied by Cink, closely reviewed videotape of Cink removing some loose impediments behind his ball. In reviewing the tape, White concluded that Cink’s actions in removing the loose impediments were in accord with the Rules of Golf. In the absence of any rules violation, no penalty was appropriate and Cink’s victory was affirmed.
Source – PGA Tour
