Are you kidding me? Masters official gives Chinese 14 year old one stroke penalty for taking too much time

Anyone think that's absurd. The kid is 14 and playing in the freaking Masters. Just like "Jordan Rules" in the NBA shouldn't their by "Chinese 14 year old rules" in golf.Good for Ben Crenshaw for sticking up for him.http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/04/13/slow-playing-guan-at-risk-of-missing-cut-idINDEE93B0HV20130413

The only decent thing about this story is apparently it's not racial like even I had assumed it was.

Apparently the 'official' is known for being a stickler and loves to fine people on the next to last hole like here:

On tour there has been a big issue with slow play. It's just the rules and there shouldn't be exceptions made for a 14 year old. His group was put on the clock since they were lagging behind. The next player in that group that was timed playing slow would be penalized. Guan happened to be the next player. If he wants to mix it up with the big boys at the masters he must be ready to play by the rules. Which I must add Guan handled the penalty very maturely. He accepted the ruling and respected their decision. He may not have agreed with it, but he knows it's part of the game. Props to Guan for composing himself so well after the fact.

Registry wrote:

LM wrote:

Given that I'm with you on everything you said, I'm really not entirely sure why you feel I am a moron.

Maybe it's because you agree with a self-described troll? Not to mention your earlier exaggeration.

Just because someone describes themselves as a troll doesn't mean they do so everytime they post.

What trollism was referring to about how players should get penalized a ton makes sense to me. It's a poor solution to constantly say slow play is a problem and then do...nothing. Players are put on the clock with some regularity, but a stroke penalty hasn't occurred (at least until this week)since 1995 or something like that.

I didn't actually call you a moron, I said 'your a moran'. I just felt I had to add it at the end, I apologise.

My point was, if you're going to start to solve a problem on the whole tour (not just the majors and certainly not just the masters) why would you start by smashing a 14 year old Chinese kid?

It seems unfair at best, and certainly counterproductive.

LM wrote:

Players are put on the clock with some regularity, but a stroke penalty hasn't occurred (at least until this week)since 1995 or something like that.

False (again).

Fack checker wrote:

LM wrote:

Players are put on the clock with some regularity, but a stroke penalty hasn't occurred (at least until this week)since 1995 or something like that.

False (again).

Which part of the statement was wrong?

I believe it's only the second time a player has been given a stroke penalty and the last time was 18 years ago. Sounds good to me.

trollism wrote:

Fack checker wrote:

False (again).

Which part of the statement was wrong?

I believe it's only the second time a player has been given a stroke penalty and the last time was 18 years ago. Sounds good to me.

It's actually a little unclear. There are several correct interpretations.

Looking at it, slow pay penalties have occasionally been asessed at majors (Bunday @ Whistling Straight in 10'), but many different articles claim Glen Day in 95' as the last player on tour to have been assessed a penalty; which is probably the distinction. Glen Day is the last player on (PGA) tour to have been assessed a penalty, but not the last player to have been sanctioned with a slow play penalty in a tour event.

Either way though, the point still stands, which is that slow play is enforced very infrequently.

trollism wrote:

Fack checker wrote:

False (again).

Which part of the statement was wrong?

I believe it's only the second time a player has been given a stroke penalty and the last time was 18 years ago. Sounds good to me.

The PGA tour usually issues $$$ fines for slow play, hence why it's been so long for a player to get a stroke penalty for slow play. ANGC made the decision before the tournament to issue 1 stroke penalties for slow play instead of fining players.

Mark Nutt wrote:

trollism wrote:

Which part of the statement was wrong?

I believe it's only the second time a player has been given a stroke penalty and the last time was 18 years ago. Sounds good to me.

The PGA tour usually issues $$$ fines for slow play, hence why it's been so long for a player to get a stroke penalty for slow play. ANGC made the decision before the tournament to issue 1 stroke penalties for slow play instead of fining players.

These fines are part of the problem. They aren't especially significant compared to players incomes/winnings from tour events so many players don't care too much about them.

Stroke penalties would have a more "direct" impact on the players earnings and livelihoods.

Being able to time players without warning them would be effective as well, but somehow I don't think the players would go for it at all.

LM wrote:

Players are put on the clock with some regularity, but a stroke penalty hasn't occurred (at least until this week)since 1995 or something like that.

Fack checker wrote:

False (again).

trollism wrote:

Which part of the statement was wrong?

I believe it's only the second time a player has been given a stroke penalty and the last time was 18 years ago. Sounds good to me.

2010 PGA Championship

Boris. wrote:

It was the first one stoke penalty issued for slow play in history of the Masters - and it was given to a 14 year old Chinese player, who patently wasn’t the slowest player in the field.

Ironically the one who would have taken his place had he not made the cut was Australian Jason Day, arguably the slowest player on the tour.

What is ironic about that?

LM wrote:

These fines are part of the problem. They aren't especially significant compared to players incomes/winnings from tour events so many players don't care too much about them.

Stroke penalties would have a more "direct" impact on the players earnings and livelihoods.

Being able to time players without warning them would be effective as well, but somehow I don't think the players would go for it at all.

I agree, it has gotten to the point where some players will allocate an amount of cash before each season to go directly to slow play violations because they still wish to play slow.

Stroke penalties will definitely get players to speed it up. If only the USGA would focus more on pace of play rather than the anchoring issue atm...

I still think they should let players know that they're being put on the clock. Though it should be announcement immediately when the officials find that they're off pace.

The slow play is a function of the improved skill of the players, especially with regard to the number of long hitters. On a par 4, a group cannot hit off the tee until the prior group reaches the green. On a 5, it's nearly the same since some these guys can get on in 2. So they can drive, but then they have to wait for the group in front to clear the green. Meanwhile there's another group waiting at the tee. No wonder play is slow.