Hunting Dogs are Frightened by Tiger

Golf rules have thousands of variations depending on different situations. If you are well aware of them, you can force your opponents take a vital penalty shot or you may be rescued without a penalty yourself.

Such a case happened when Ahn Shi-hyun (19, Kolon) gained two penalty shots after her caddie drove away a bee which was in the line of putting. Ahn’s accompanying player, Carin Koch (Sweden), protested this rule infraction at the Tournament of Champions at the U.S. LPGA Tour last week.

On the first day (foursomes, six games) of the 2003 Presidents Cup, held at The Links Course at the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate (par 73) in South Africa, on November 20 with the complete appearances of all the top golf stars worldwide, this incident occurred after an analysis of rules. It was because a judge, as well as the players, was so confused that he applied the rules incorrectly.

“The accident” occurred at the fifth hole (par 5) of the foursomes game (in which the two players of a team hits the ball by taking turns) between Choi Kyung-joo-Stewart Appleby (Australia) and “Golf Emperor” Tiger Woods-Charles Howell III.

The tee shot hit by Choi Kyung-joo curved far left and fell into the bushes and a shot was impossible. Choi Kyung-joo and Appleby declared it “unplayable,” meaning that they would get one penalty stroke after consideration.

The problem was that both these players weren’t sure who would hit the third shot. Inevitably, Appleby asked judge Teo Manyama, who belonged to South Africa tour, and Manyama responded, “It is Choi Kyung-joo’s turn.” Manyama misunderstood because he figured the penalty shot was Appleby’s second shot.

However in Article 29 of the official golf rules, it is stated, “The playing order by turns is not changed even if a penalty shot occurs in foursome games.” If they violate the order, it will be recorded that they lose that hole immediately.

But the play on the fifth hole was continued even after Choi Kyung-joo hit the third dropped shot. Woods appealed immediately when he saw Choi Kyung-joo hit it, but it was not accepted by the judge. Woods, with a 3-on, 60 cm away from the hole, beat Choi-Appleby who managed to hit a 4-on.

Manyama confessed his mistake, saying, “I don’t know why I was confused. It is extremely fortunate that Woods-Howell III did win the hole.”

Meanwhile, the international team forestalled with a slight win over United States (3 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses, to finish with 3.5 winning points) thanks to the first victory of Retief Goosen (South Africa) - Vijay Singh. “Hunting Dogs” (Choi-Appleby), intending to “bite off the tiger (Woods)” only lost by four holes with three holes remaining.

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com