Golf Killing Itself with Dumb Rules?

Sports have rules for a reason. They provide a framework to allow for organized competition. When enforced appropriately, they ensure fair and honest play. They keep athletes safe.

Golf, however, is killing itself with rules.

It's not so much the quantity of rules--in fact, golf probably has fewer rules than most sports--but the inanity of them.

By now, everyone knows the story of Dustin Johnson, who cost himself a shot at the PGA Championship when he grounded a club in a "bunker" on the 72nd hole at Whistling Straits. Golf purists have breathlessly defended the PGA's decision to penalize him, standing up for the letter of the rule without questioning the sensibility of applying the rule in that particular case. (Here's a new rule: a bunker is not a bunker if a spectator can plop his lawn chair on it.)

Johnson's situation reminded us of other silliness with rules that have absolutely nothing to do with golf skill. Pulling the pin for a playing partner when he didn't ask first? Two stroke penalty. Wind blew your ball? That counts as a stroke. Sign a scorecard with a wrong number? That's a DQ. Can you imagine this happening in, say, basketball?
"Excuse me, Mr. Jordan. How many points did you score tonight?"
"Um...33?"
"No, I'm sorry. You had 32. I'm afraid your inability to count means the Bulls must forfeit."

On Wednesday, Jim Furyk was disqualified from The Barclays tournament in New York for showing up late for his tee time after missing his alarm. Ok, that's bad form. He shouldn't have overslept. Except that it was FOR THE PRO-AM! His failure to show up on time for a meaningless exhibition round essentially cost him a shot at the FedEx Cup and a $10 million payout. Explain that one to the ticket holders, some of whom would have liked to have seen a player of Furyk's caliber.

Rules are fine, but when the PGA, USGA and tournament officials enforce things that can't easily be explained or defended to fans, it hurts the sport. With it's best player struggling with personal crises and a shaky game, golf can't afford to alienate fans with pretentiousness masked as "tradition."

One last thing: can we finally let the guys play in shorts, for crying out loud? Yeah, I don't need to see Ernie Els pasty legs, but when it's 99 degrees outside, I'd like the man to be comfortable.

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