Seung-Yul Noh pays strange penalty

August 23, 2014

Korean Seung-Yul Noh was on a real tear in the second round on Friday, when he brought to a stutter due to one of the most bizarre penalties in recent times. Noh was assessed a rare two-stroke penalties during his second round of The Barclays after playing his second shot on the 11th hole from the third green. The Korean had completed the front nine in just 32 shots after making four birdies in five holes and added another at the par-3 tenth hole. But his round took a sudden turn for the worse at the 11th where he stumbled to a triple bogey seven.

Noh hit his tee shot at the 11th hole so far right on the par 4 that it landed on the putting surface of the adjacent hole. After waiting for the group on No. 3 to putt out, Noh hit his next shot from the green.

Under USGA Rule 25-3, if a player’s ball is on a wrong putting green, he must take relief and drop within one club length not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must also not be in a hazard or on a putting green.

Noh said that he was unaware of the rule and never called for an official but added that one was 20 or 30 yards away watching the events unfold. Noh’s playing partners, Graeme McDowell and George McNeill, were not nearby and Noh’s veteran caddie, David Brooker, who has been looping professionally for more than two decades, didn’t seem to be aware of the rule, either.

After Noh hit his second shot official Brad Fabel, who couldn’t tell from his position if Noh was on the green, informed him of the penalty once he realized Noh had indeed played a shot from the wrong putting surface. Instead of a bogey, Noh was given a 7 on the hole. He went on to shoot a 1-over 72 and is 2 under entering the weekend at Ridgewood.

“I’ve been out here 33 years,” said Vice President of Rules and Competition Slugger White. “We have never seen this happen.” After Noh hit his shot, Noh’s caddie retrieved the divot and tried to replace it but officials had to put a hole plug in the spot where Noh hit from.

Edited by Anand Datla

Republished from the PGA Tour Website