Talking Sports: Book learning

“What a stupid I am.”

That’s what Roberto De Vicenzo said after the 1968 Masters Tournament.

“I’m such an idiot.”

The words of Phil Mickelson following the 2006 U.S. Open. I don’t remember what Colin Montgomery said after his final round that year. Nor do I remember what Jean Van de Velde said after the 1999 Open Championship. But they were stand-up guys at least, I remember that.

But for the first 13 and most of the past four years I’ve played golf all my life. Most of that golf has been recreational. But I’ve played enough competitive golf to know that recreational golf is a much different animal in many ways--and how gut wrenching golf can be in either case.

I was at a golf match a while back which was played by high-school students. For a couple of holes I was following a particular group. None of them seemed to know the rules very well. One of them even cost him/herself--and more importantly the team--a stroke or more. Another one should have been disqualified. Not for malice mind you, but ignorance.

I’m no expert on the rules. In fact far from it. But there are some basic rules everyone should know--especially if you’re playing in a team concept where others are dependent on you.

As for De Vicenzo, he birdied the 17th hole in the fourth round of the Masters in ‘68. His playing partner, Tommy Aaron, wrote down a par. At the completion of the fourth round it appeared De Vicenzo and Bob Goalby would meet the next day to settle their two-way tie.

Unfortunately, De Vicenzo didn’t look over his scorecard carefully enough and signed for a 66 instead of a 65. Had he taken the care to look over his scorecard he would have tied Goalby. Per the rules of golf, however, the par Aaron wrote down on the card stood. At least after it was signed. Had he signed for a score lower than what he had actually shot he would have been disqualified.

What a stupid he was. Though that would have been the supreme achievement of his chosen profession, he still had a exceptional career.

As for Mickelson and Van de Velde, the mistakes that cost them a major championship were mental as well. But I’ve never thought Van de Velde and Mickelson made mistakes that compared to the blunder of De Vicenzo.

Sure they made mental mistakes in the heat of battle. But they were strategic mistakes that allowed for physical errors. Not knowing or following the rules seems so much more unfortunate to me. Sports is sports and golf is golf. We’ve all missed shots and made poor strategic decisions.

Just a quick recap. Mickelson needed a par on the final hole to win the ‘06 Open and scored a double bogey instead. With a more conservative approach, he could have at least salvaged a bogey for a playoff. But he often plays with a reckless go-for-broke style.

Lots of us amateur’s do, too. That’s the fun of it for most of us. Triple bogeys be damned. As for me I seldom met a par-5 I didn’t want to try to reach in two, no matter what stood in the way or what trouble lay ahead. That’s partly why we like Phil so much.

Similarly, Van de Velde had a three-stroke lead on the 72nd hole at the brutal Carnoustie Golf Links in ‘99 and threw it away. He had won European tournaments before and afterwards but nothing in his career would have compared to having the Claret Jug on his mantle. Mickelson has plenty of hardware on his mantle including a jug, but not a U.S. Open trophy.

De Vicenzo probably knew the rule, he just didn’t understand how critical it was to be a stickler in a moment like that. In recreational golf being a stickler isn’t so important. In fact, it can be absolutely annoying sometimes. After all you’re not going to walk 300 yards backwards to re-tee a drive after discovering you’ve lost your ball. Try that on a busy weekend at your local muni and see what kind of reaction you get.

In competitive golf, however, being a stickler is significantly more important. Certainly at the professional level. But even in high school knowing the rules can be a useful asset to you and your team. It can give you an advantage over your opponent.

In one of the situations I witnessed, Golfer A hit his drive into a water hazard. He/she then proceeded to plant another tee in the ground and swing away. The golfer took a stroke and distance penalty when a penalty less harsh is demanded by the rules.

As I recall, the rule requires a drop of one or two club lengths from the point of entry no closer to the hole. Or one could drop the ball as far back from the point of entry as he/she wished on a line to the where the original shot was played. You could even roll up your pants and take a whack without penalty. But even Van de Velde decided against that option.

A one-stroke penalty is incurred in the first two cases of course.

Had the golfer done what was required, a bogey was realistic instead of the triple that resulted. But everyone in the group seemed to think that re-teeing the ball was the proper course of action. At least nobody questioned it.

On another occasion Golfer B was looking for his/her ball in the rough. After about five minutes had elapsed the group gave up the search - as they should have. But the golfer simply pulled a ball out of his pocket and dropped it where he was. The person took a one-stroke penalty.

As James Bond said to Goldfinger in the 1964 flick by the same name, “Time’s up Goldfinger. A lost ball will cost you stroke and distance.”

Golfer B should have gone back to the tee. Or he should have announced he was hitting a provisional in the first place. That is, if their was any question as to whether the ball could be found.

When watching the PGA or LPGA on television we often see professionals call in a rules official. Most likely it’s a “cover your hide” response lest one of the many obscure rules in the USGA Rules of Golf cost one a tournament or a larger check. But I’m not such a rules geek that I would ever call in to the television station and report a rules infraction. But players in competition should know the basics.

As high school districts and state approach in Nebraska, there will be officials near at hand to settle any questions that may arise. In the meantime, it just might help to be aware of the rules that come into play on almost a daily basis.

If your playing partner is more aware of the rules you, he/she just might be able to use them to your disadvantage. Who knows, the stroke you save just may be your own.