The Bite of the Rule: Austin Eckroat’s Frustrating Encounter with Golf’s Time Limits at The Players Championship
The tranquil atmosphere around TPC Sawgrass was shattered as Austin Eckroat’s nerve-wracking putt on the edge of the 11th hole’s cup seemed to defy gravity, only to be denied entry by a mere millimeter. However, this near-miss was far from the end of the American golfer’s ordeal.
As the crowd held their collective breath, Eckroat and his playing partner Joel Dahmen watched intently as the ball remained stubbornly on the lip of the hole. The tension was palpable, but their relief was premature. After almost 40 seconds had elapsed, the ball finally dropped in, eliciting a triumphant roar from the crowd. Yet, Eckroat’s reaction was more subdued as his mind raced to contemplate the intricacies of golf’s Rules of Play.
The rules governing the game dictate that a player is entitled to “reasonable” time to reach the hole and an additional 10 seconds to wait and see if their ball drops in (Rule 13.3a). However, since Eckroat’s putt was technically considered “at rest,” the delay in its descent resulted in a one-stroke penalty. Consequently, his par on the hole was a bitter pill to swallow despite the thrilling birdie putt.
This infuriating turn of events drew widespread criticism from golf enthusiasts, with some taking to social media to voice their displeasure. Michael McEwen, deputy editor at the esteemed golf site Bunkered, succinctly summed up the sentiment with a simple “stupid rule.”
A parallel incident unfolded at last year’s PGA Championship, involving American golfer Lee Hodges, further fueling the debate. Despite a statement from the tournament’s rules committee explaining the penalty, no official comment was issued regarding Eckroat’s predicament. According to a PGA Tour spokesperson, the penalty was merely an “application of the rule” (News Finder).
The stroke penalty added insult to injury for Eckroat, who experienced a turbulent final round. Beginning the day at four-under par in a tied-17th position, two bogeys and a double bogey through his opening nine holes left him reeling at even par. His closing round of four-over 76, a stark contrast to his impressive previous scores of 71, 69, and 68, left him at an overall total of 13-under par.
As world No.6 Xander Schauffele took a commanding one-shot lead into the final day with a $4.5 million prize purse awaiting the winner of golf’s prestigious PGA Tour event, Eckroat’s day was a reminder that even the most skilled players can be caught out by the unforgiving nature of golf’s rules.
