An Oscillating Golf Ball
There was some unintended drama at the St. Jude Classic on Sunday that involved Tom Pernice Jr. As he stood over his putt on the 14th green, the ball moved ever-so-slightly off the putter-head before he made his putting stroke. The rules of golf are pretty clear in this situation, and once the putter has been grounded the ball is in play and can’t be moved, except to make the putting stroke. The instant replay clearly showed the ball moving forward, but when confronted by a rules official a few holes later, Pernice was completely unaware of the incident.
It was actually an odd conversation between Pernice and the official that went something along the lines of, “did you see your ball move?”. “No, I didn’t, but if it did move, then give me the penalty so I can keep playing my round”. The official then said something to the effect of “it actually looked like the ball oscillated back and forth…do you agree?, and if so, there is no penalty”.
Wouldn’t you know it, Pernice agreed that the ball did in fact oscillate and lo and behold, there was no penalty assessed to Pernice. Now, color me skeptical but I’ve been playing golf for many years and I’ve never seen a golf ball go into an unprovoked, break-dancing, oscillating fit all by itself. Not to question Pernice’s integrity, but isn’t it ironic that last year Pernice took it upon himself to call PGA/USGA headquarters during a tournament he was watching on TV, to let them know he thought Tiger Woods’ driver ought to be confiscated after the round and tested to see if it was illegal. Seems that Mr. Pernice didn’t appreciate Mr. Woods outdriving Mr. Mickelson on that particular day. Tiger’s driver was tested that day and deemed perfectly legal.
Mr. Pernice, go spend some quality time with one Mr. Darren Clarke.
I’ve seen a ball wiggle, yet not move from it’s spot. I saw the replays and I can’t tell it it moved or not from it’s lie, but I do know that it didn’t help him make or miss the putt if it did move a 1/32 od an inch.
Roger Maltbie said it best in this months Golf Magazine…what the heck do I as an onlooker have to do with another guys round of golf ?
We need less of people injecting themselves from 1000 miles away, while viewing a TV screen and more of the golfer them selves policing the rules.
Tom should have never called in and this was the Universes way of telling him so.
He’d have been better off to have taken a penalty, even if he didn’t deserve it, just to make himself come out better in the long run, like Darren Clarke did.
This will bother him for a long time and his integrity will always be a matter of question.