Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
Due to Hurricane Debby, the PGA Tour did not play the first round of the Wyndham Championship on last Thursday and opted to play the final two rounds on Sunday. Pace of play was not great on Sunday and the final group that included Matt Kuchar was playing the penultimate hole of the tournament in near darkness. The group finished 17 with hopes of finishing the round because at this point, the winner was likely already decided when they reached the 18th tee. The players knew that if just one player hit a tee shot on 18 before the officials suspended for darkness that they would have the option to finish the hole. Kuchar thought the fairway was clear and hit his tee shot left of the fairway into the trees. Unbeknownst to him, the group ahead of them were waiting in the fairway for the green to clear when he hit his tee shot. After at least one the players hit their tee shot, a Rules Official declared that play was suspended, but since one player in the final group have started play of the 18th hole, the entire group is allowed to finish the hole.
Rule 5.7b states that when a play is suspended for a non-dangerous situation, the players have the option to complete the play of the hole if one player in the group has begun play of a hole. The other players in Kuchar’s group decided to complete the hole, but since Kuchar had a difficult second shot, he decided to suspend play and resume Monday morning.
There was some controversy over the reasons for Kuchar’s reasons to suspend play until the next; however, his decision paid off. The next morning, in better light, he realized that a temporary immovable obstruction (a scoreboard or gallery stand) was in his line of play which granted him free relief. He dropped a ball in his relief area which happened to be in adjacent fairway which provided him a shot at the green. He played a hybrid club short right of the green and nearly chipped in for a birdie. He tapped in for a great par save and a T12 finish.
Once the Committee suspends play for a non-dangerous situation, like darkness or rain without lightning, the option to finish the hole is on the player and they may stop play at any time during the play of that hole. The other players in the group may complete play of the as long as their scoring marker remains present.
One of the most unusual immediate suspensions (imminent danger like lightning nearby) happened at the 2020 Florida State Amateur Championship where there was an active police manhunt on and around the course. Some young men committed some crimes nearby and were fleeing from the police, and they were believed to be on or near the golf course we were playing. They were also thought to be armed and dangerous. So, even though the weather was perfect, we suspended play and evacuated the golf course as directed by the local police.
Stay safe out there!
