US Open rule ‘a lot don’t know’ stuns icon as Rory McIlroy affected | Golf | Sport

Rory McIlroy was among the many impacted by the murky conditions at Shinnecock Hills as he posted a first-round 69 at one-under par. That followed the fog causing a two-hour suspension during the morning session of this year’s penultimate major, leaving the field to kill time however they chose. However, it was not immediately apparent just how lengthy the fog delay would prove when it was first announced. That left some competitors midway through the hole they were tackling at the time and the rules state a group can complete their current hole should they choose despite any suspension.

The USGA’s Senior Manager of Rules, Jay Roberts, appeared on the Golf Channel broadcast to address the weather and rulings during this period. It was then analyst Tom Abbott quizzed Roberts on whether players could practice on the green of the last hole they played during the pause.

Not only did the USGA representative confirm practice was perfectly acceptable during these intervals but he also noted it could take place in any practice area on the course. Furthermore, he clarified golfers were permitted to practice on the green of the hole they had just completed, so long as they were unable to advance to the next hole.

“Great call, I had no idea,” said lead analyst and 2003 US Open champion Jim Furyk. Abbott reassured Furyk it’s one law where a lot of golfers are in the dark.

“In USGA championships they allow you to practice on the previous green during play as long as you don’t hold up play,” said his Golf Channel colleague. “It’s something a lot of players don’t know.” And the extent of the rules he was in the dark about went further than that.

Per Rule 5.5b of the USGA handbook, players can practice on the green of the hole they’ve just completed. This is provided they haven’t played the first stroke of the following hole and are not holding up play in any way.

“I was totally unaware,” added Furyk in similarly dumbfounded fashion. Practice can also extend to chipping on or near the putting green of the previous hole. However, players are strictly prohibited from practising out of a bunker and must not unreasonably delay play.

Given the considerable disruption caused by the fog at Shinnecock Hills, such lengthy delays are a rare occurrence. Nevertheless, Furyk will no doubt consider himself considerably better informed after this particular revelation.

It was also during Thursday’s opening round that an errant shot from McIlroy on the fourth hole (his 13th of the day) nearly ended up in the hands of a spectator. However, the USGA has since issued a statement confirming the woman in question did not pick up McIlroy’s ball and interfere with play as many had believed.