Serving as a Rules Official at the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage was one of the most exciting (and stressful) experiences I have had in golf. I have had the opportunity to work many great championships including several U.S. Senior Opens, but never the big one””the U.S. Open!
In the first round I was assigned to the 7:55 a.m. starting time off of the 10th tee. It was a friendly threesome of Jim Furyk, Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Casey! Nothing like having two past champions and the hottest player on the European Tour in your group for your first U.S. Open as a Rules official! Adding to the challenge was the weather””a good old fashioned “pea-souper” with rain and wind coming down on a golf course that had already been pummeled for weeks prior. You think it’s hard to play golf in the rain””try carrying a Rule book, 12 sheets of paper (including the Notice to Competitors, hole-by-hole notes on all of the on course “obstructions”) and the Rules “binder” containing Rules incidents cards, suspension of play cards, USGA “squeegee policy”, etc, etc. Keeping clubs and grips dry is much easier than trying to keep a desk full of paperwork dry with nothing more than a wind jacket and umbrella–and on a day like this, it seemed I would need to consult every page!
Surprisingly, the first six holes were uneventful as far as Rulings were concerned. The golf course was playing tough, but the world’s best players seemed to be handling it well. When we arrived at the tee on the par-four 15th hole (the 15th proved to be the hardest hole of the championship) the rain started coming down much harder. Casey’s drive hooked left into the deep fescue and the radio communication picked up as it appeared a suspension for unplayable conditions was imminent.
Casey’s ball was found in the deep rough and I hung out nearby in case he needed help with an unplayable or some other question. After investigating the lie he started to reach down in the deep grass to confirm it was indeed his ball that had been found by the crack staff of marshals at Bethpage. As he started to reach down I reminded him that he can lift the ball to identify it and to mark the position of the ball. After confirming it was his ball he started to look at his unplayable lie options (stroke and distance, two club-lengths from where the ball lies, and keeping the point where the ball lies on a straight line to the hole and going back on that line). After several minutes he determined that his best option was to drop within two club-lengths. Because of the ball search by the marshals, and the other activity around the ball (to identify it, measure, etc.) the grass around the ball was matted down. Rule 13-2 states that the player shall not improve or allow to become improved, the lie of his ball, the area of his intended swing, or an area in which he might drop a ball. But the player is allowed to search for his ball and, once found, determine his options. The improved conditions that ultimately benefited Casey were all a result of fairly searching for and identifying his ball and investigating his options under the Rules. If he had purposely laid down his bag in this area or purposely trampled down the grass in order to improve it he would have been in violation of Rule 13. It was clear to me that Casey did nothing intentionally and was proceeding under the Rules to determine his best option.
After Casey played, the horns were sounded and play was suspended for the day. I later learned that the Rules incident with Casey was on television which led to a sleepless night with dreams of over-zealous golf fans calling in questioning the Ruling! When the lights are on it’s easy to doubt yourself, but it was an experience I won’t forget!
