Presidents Cup controversy sees US pair lose hole 'twice'

Sport360 staff 20:54 09/10/2015
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  • Confusion and controversy struck the Presidents Cup on Friday when Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson lost the seventh hole “twice” after being penalised in a baffling rules infringement.

    The US pair stood on the seventh tee at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, Incheon, all square in their fourball match against Aussie duo Adam Scott and Jason Day.

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    But by the time they walked off the green, they were two holes down – something that would seem impossible in match play golf.

    It turned out Mickelson had breached a rule which states you must play the entire round with the same brand and model of golf ball.

    Mickelson noticed he had a different model of Callaway ball after hitting his tee shot on the seventh and reported himself to the match referee, who prevented him from finishing the hole.

    Johnson made a par five, but Day won the hole for the International team with a birdie four.

    Mark Russell, vice-president of rules and competition for the PGA Tour, told reporters why the unusual penalty had been imposed.

    “On the seventh tee, Phil Mickelson put a different type of ball into play than that which he had been playing earlier in the round. When he did this, he breached the ‘One-Ball Condition’,” said Russell.

    “In this situation, the penalty for breach of this condition is a one-hole adjustment to the state of the match. The USA lost the seventh hole, making the International side one up. At this point, the adjustment penalty of one hole is applied, resulting in the Internationals being two-up through seven holes.”

    In effect, the US lost the hole twice, but Russell admitted that Mickelson could have continued on the hole but was advised he was disqualified from it by the rules committee in discussion with the match referee Gary Young.

    “Okay. I accept total responsibility for that mistake,” Russell said.

    Despite the controversy, Mickelson showed his class, as the US pair fought back to halve the match.

    On Thursday he had holed 45-foot bunker blast for a birdie. On Friday he had an even better contender for shot of the week when he again holed from the sand – but this time from fully 138 yards away for an astonishing eagle two at the 12th.

    The ruling had competitors, watching media and spectators alike scratching their heads.

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