Si Woo Kim PENALIZED after Ball is Left Overhanging Lip of Hole | Golf Rules Explained

Summary

In a recent incident at the RBC Heritage, Siwoo Kim's birdie putt hung on the lip of the hole for 55 seconds before eventually dropping. This led to a discussion with a rules official and the application of Rule 13.3, which states that a ball overhanging the hole must be given 10 seconds before being considered at rest. After waiting, Kim’s ball dropped, but because it took longer than the 10-second limit, he was assessed a penalty stroke, resulting in a par instead of a birdie. The situation sparked confusion, but the rules official’s decision adhered to the intended pace-of-play regulations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Siwoo Kim's putt at the RBC Heritage hung on the lip of the hole for a significant amount of time before eventually dropping in.
• 😀 Rule 13.3 covers a ball overhanging the hole, where players have a reasonable amount of time to get to the hole and assess if the ball will drop.
• 😀 A 'reasonable amount of time' is not strictly defined, as it depends on various factors, such as the distance the player is from the hole and external circumstances like waiting for other players.
• 😀 Once the player reaches the hole, they have 10 seconds to wait for the ball to drop. If it doesn’t drop within that time, it is considered at rest.
• 😀 Kim and his playing partner, Matt Kuchar, waited longer than 10 seconds because they believed the ball was still moving and didn't want to hit a moving ball.
• 😀 After roughly 55 seconds, the ball finally dropped into the cup, but by that point, the ball was deemed to be at rest while on the lip.
• 😀 According to the rules official, the ball falling into the hole after the waiting period resulted in a one-stroke penalty for Kim, causing him to make par instead of birdie.
• 😀 The rules clarify that players cannot wait indefinitely for the ball to drop, which would disrupt the pace of play. This is why the 10-second rule is enforced.
• 😀 The modified rule states that when a ball is overhanging the hole, players are given a maximum of 10 seconds to wait for the ball to drop, to prevent excessive delays in play.
• 😀 Even though the ball may roll for a longer time (such as on a fairway), the 10-second rule applies when the ball is hanging on the lip to avoid unnecessary delays and to keep play moving.

Q & A

What was the situation involving Siwoo Kim during the RBC Heritage?

Siwoo Kim's ball hung on the lip of the hole for an extended period before eventually dropping in. This raised questions regarding the proper interpretation of golf rules, particularly Rule 13.3, concerning balls overhanging the hole.

What is Rule 13.3 in golf, and how does it apply in Siwoo Kim's case?

Rule 13.3 applies when a ball is overhanging the hole. It states that a player has a reasonable amount of time to reach the hole and 10 seconds to wait after reaching it to see if the ball will drop. Kim's ball was considered to be at rest after the 10-second waiting period, and a penalty stroke was assessed.

Why is the concept of a 'reasonable amount of time' not clearly defined in Rule 13.3?

The term 'reasonable amount of time' is not explicitly defined because circumstances can vary greatly depending on the situation. For example, a player from the fairway might take longer to reach the hole compared to a player putting from nearby, so the rule allows for discretion based on context.

What does it mean for a ball to be considered 'at rest' according to the rules?

A ball is considered 'at rest' when it has stopped moving. In the case of Kim's ball, it was deemed to be at rest on the lip after 10 seconds, even though it eventually dropped in. This is because the ball was no longer in motion at the time the 10-second waiting period expired.

How long did Siwoo Kim wait before his ball dropped into the hole?

Siwoo Kim waited approximately 55 seconds before the ball finally dropped into the hole, which exceeded the 10-second waiting period outlined in Rule 13.3.

What was the reason Siwoo Kim and Matt Kuchar waited so long before tapping the ball?

Kim and Kuchar waited so long because they believed the ball was still moving. They did not want to tap a moving ball, which would incur a two-stroke penalty, as seen in previous situations like Phil Mickelson's 2018 U.S. Open incident.

What did the rules official explain about the ball's movement?

The rules official explained that this was considered a 'modified roll' situation. In regular play, it’s not uncommon for balls to take longer than 10 seconds to come to rest. However, when the ball is overhanging the hole, a strict 10-second waiting period applies to ensure the game proceeds without unnecessary delays.

Why is Rule 13.3 considered 'modified' in this context?

Rule 13.3 is considered 'modified' because while balls can take longer than 10 seconds to come to rest during regular play, the overhanging situation requires a firm 10-second wait to avoid indefinite delays in play. This helps maintain the flow of the game.

What was the penalty Siwoo Kim faced after the rules official's ruling?

Siwoo Kim was assessed a one-stroke penalty because the ball fell into the hole after the 10-second waiting period had passed, causing him to make par instead of birdie.

What impact did this ruling have on Kim's score during the RBC Heritage?

The ruling resulted in Siwoo Kim making par instead of birdie, as the penalty stroke for the ball dropping after the waiting period was applied.