From PGA Champ (Southern Hills)...rake stops ball

[Bulls9999]

OK, just saw this on TV. Corey Pavin in greenside bunker that slopes to the water. Corey hits out of bunker, doesn't make it all the way on the green, and the ball starts running backwards off the green, down the slope and about to hit a rake when his caddy picks up the rake and the ball goes in the water. The caddy then puts the rake down on the grass.

Up next was Tim Heron, Corey's playing partner, who was directly opposite the water, chips onto the green, the ball rolls across the green and down the same slope and going toward the rake and is stopped by the rake. He gets to mark the ball with a tee, picks up the rake and the ball stays put.

Did Corey's caddy just ** Corey? There didn't seem to be any objection to the caddy removing the rake while the ball was moving towards it. I thought that would have been an infraction.

[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

OK, just saw this on TV. Corey Pavin in greenside bunker that slopes to the water. Corey hits out of bunker, doesn't make it all the way on the green, and the ball starts running backwards off the green, down the slope and about to hit a rake when his caddy picks up the rake and the ball goes in the water. The caddy then puts the rake down on the grass.

Up next was Tim Heron, Corey's playing partner, who was directly opposite the water, chips onto the green, the ball rolls across the green and down the same slope and going toward the rake and is stopped by the rake. He gets to mark the ball with a tee, picks up the rake and the ball stays put.

Did Corey's caddy just ** Corey? There didn't seem to be any objection to the caddy removing the rake while the ball was moving towards it. I thought that would have been an infraction.

That amazed me, too. I was wondering why the heck did he pick up the rake to allow Cory's ball to roll into the hazard ? Unless it's against the rules for him to place it there (if he's the one who did that) prior to Cory playing out of the sand. Even then I thought what they did with Heron's ball was the correct move. I don't know what the rule is if the ball rolls into the hazard when the rake is moved. Perhaps one of our rules gurus can fill us in.

[Bigvivec]

What's the rule if Pavin goes after his caddy with said rake!!! Someone isn't getting a tip today!

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

OK, just saw this on TV. Corey Pavin in greenside bunker that slopes to the water. Corey hits out of bunker, doesn't make it all the way on the green, and the ball starts running backwards off the green, down the slope and about to hit a rake when his caddy picks up the rake and the ball goes in the water. The caddy then puts the rake down on the grass.

Up next was Tim Heron, Corey's playing partner, who was directly opposite the water, chips onto the green, the ball rolls across the green and down the same slope and going toward the rake and is stopped by the rake. He gets to mark the ball with a tee, picks up the rake and the ball stays put.

Did Corey's caddy just ** Corey? There didn't seem to be any objection to the caddy removing the rake while the ball was moving towards it. I thought that would have been an infraction.

Breach of rule 1-2...two strokes. Plus one stroke for getting to take it out of the water.

[300Yards]

Isn't there a hotline you can call to report rules infractions? I know they pay you a good bit of money to spot infractions..

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by 300Yards

Isn't there a hotline you can call to report rules infractions? I know they pay you a good bit of money to spot infractions..

That's a false rumor. There is no place that pays for you to report these infractions. They would have so many calls that they would never have the time to sort out the legitimate calls from the wackos.

[Bulls9999]

24-1 Movable Obstruction

A player may take relief without penalty from a movable obstruction as follows:
(a) If the ball does not lie in or on the obstruction, the obstruction may be removed. If the ball moves, it must be replaced, and there is no penalty provided that the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction. Otherwise, Rule 18-2a applies. (b) If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction, but not nearer the hole. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.

When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than an attended flagstick or equipment of the players, must not be removed.

(Exerting influence on ball — see Rule 1-2.)
Note: If a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
-------------------------

I don't think the 'rake' is considered equipment, lol....and the ball was moving!

Originally Posted by atticusfinch

Breach of rule 1-2...two strokes. Plus one stroke for getting to take it out of the water.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by 300Yards

Isn't there a hotline you can call to report rules infractions? I know they pay you a good bit of money to spot infractions..

You're thinking America's Most Wanted... different level of rules infractions...

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by 300Yards

Isn't there a hotline you can call to report rules infractions? I know they pay you a good bit of money to spot infractions..

Hurry. 1-800-bad-calls

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

They would have so many calls that they would never have the time to sort out the legitimate calls from the wackos.

You can put the phone down now 300Yards.

[Bulls9999]

I never saw this...perhaps they didn't show this on TV. I did see Heron mark his ball with a tee, remove the rake and the ball stayed put. PErhaps after the TV reception moved to another group the ball eventually rolled in?

PAVIN'S PENALTY: Corey Pavin's caddie moved a rake out of the way during an errant bunker shot at the par-3 sixth hole, allowing the ball to roll down a hill and into the water. Even though his action allowed Pavin's shot to enter the hazard instead of avoiding it, the 1995 U.S. Open champion was still assessed a two-stroke penalty.
Pavin played another shot out of the bunker, then two-putted for an 8.
Tim Herron also ran into trouble with the rake. After hitting his tee shot into the water, his shot from the drop zone hit the rake. When the rake was moved, the ball rolled into the water. He was able to drop again in a spot where the ball wouldn't roll off, and carded a 7.

[Texas Wedge]

Rule 1-2. Exerting Influence on Ball
A player or caddie must not take any action to influence the position or the movement of a ball except in accordance with the Rules.
(Removal of movable obstruction — see Rule 24-1.)

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 1-2:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
Note: In the case of a serious breach of Rule 1-2, the Committee may impose a penalty of disqualification.

From Rule 24-1, as you quoted...
When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than an attended flagstick or equipment of the players, must not be removed.

Here's what I think happened...

Pavin hit from the bunker and his ball started rolling back down the hill to the water. Because his caddie had placed the rake there, I'm guessing he thought they would have received a penalty for placing the movable object in the line of the ball. Pavin's caddie removed the rake, thinking they would avoid THAT penalty only to allow the ball to roll into the water and receive a different penalty. Instead they were given the 2 stroke penalty for moving a movable object while the ball was in motion. Pavin then had to play his next shot from the bunker again because his ball went into the water hazard.

Herron chipped across the green and the ball was moving toward a movable object that his opponent had placed on the ground. He got to mark his ball and remove the rake and the ball didn't move so he got to chip from there. Even if his ball had moved after he removed the rake and rolled into the water, he still would have been able to replace it and play with no penalty.

So, is the lesson here...place the rake in front of the water hazard if you're even in a situation like Pavin where your ball might roll back down the hill into the water?