While rare, the move is not unprecedented. Wet conditions led to preferred lies and a dreaded Monday finish in Wales 15 years ago.
Bad weather and money have been persistent themes of the 45th Ryder Cup. The former, of course, can’t be controlled, and the PGA of America has made several adjustments along the way this week in New York, such as moving the Opening Ceremony from its traditional Thursday slot to Wednesday.
On Friday, officials made another rare move: the use of preferred lies in morning foursomes.
Also known as lift, clean and place, the local rule allows players to pick up their ball and clean it to avoid mud causing unusually errant shots.
The PGA of America's statement on the rule says that when a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less (does not include the collar cut), the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it within one club length from the reference point not closer to the hole.
While rare, the move is not unprecedented. Wet conditions led to preferred lies and a dreaded Monday finish in Wales 15 years ago. It marks the only Monday finish in Ryder Cup history.
"I think it's the right thing to do if it gets super, you know, super wet out there and it's just mud ball on every hole," said Viktor Hovland of the possibility on Thursday. "I don't think that's what the people want to see. I think it's maybe another discussion whether we are going to have a club length or a scorecard. Usually in Europe we have a scorecard. In the U.S. we have a club length. I think that can maybe influence how we play a little too much, especially around the greens and then in terms of angles and stuff.
"But I think it is kind of necessary. If you're getting mud balls on every hole, I just don't think that's great TV."
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Ryder Cup goes with referred lies after bad weather plagues Bethpage
Category: General Sports
