Golf’s governing bodies to introduce new rules

More than two years too late to spare Englishman Mark Roe, golf’s governing bodies Tuesday installed what basically is a safety net to ...

More than two years too late to spare Englishman Mark Roe, golf’s governing bodies Tuesday installed what basically is a safety net to prevent players from being disqualified for entering a correct score on the wrong card.

As one of 111 amendments to the ‘‘Decisions on the Rules of Golf,’’ approved by the U.S. Golf Assn. and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of Scotland, the revision allows officials to rectify such mistakes without penalty starting January 1. Roe might have won a championship if the revised rule had been in place for the 2003 British Open. Instead, he and his playing partner, Jesper Parnevik, were disqualified, their failure to exchange cards on the opening tee at Royal St. George’s Golf Club, proving ruinous.

Roe shot a 67, which would have left him only two shots off the 54-hole lead, but signed for Parnevik’s 81. If the mistake had been caught before they left the scoring tent, they would have been permitted to erase the scores, mark correct ones on the proper cards, sign them and walk away unscathed. Tuesday’s revision allows corrections to be made by the tournament committee, ‘‘without limit of time.’’

Story continues below this ad

‘‘I’m really pleased that something good has come from my mistake, really,’’ Roe, said. ‘‘I’d like to think that the way I handled it at the time, and what I went through, was probably a small factor in their decision to look at it.’’ tour veteran Larry Mize commented.

“The PGA and LPGA tours are not expected to allow rangefinders, except in practice rounds, where they already have been in use,” Tour spokesman Bob Combs said. ( Los Angeles Times)

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India4 hr ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

View all shorts

Live Blog