Laws are there to protect not punish

TOURING professionals have a reputation of seeking relief from every type of hazard in the cut-throat competition of the golf circuit but will never, ever, make a personal judgement in doubtful circumstances.

The very nature of the game means there always is the possibility of a golf ball wandering off-line to present the player with a bizarre problem. That is why the PGA will always have a referee on hand.

Golf abounds with stories of the weird and wonderful of rooks swooping down from on high to filch balls off fairways, of balls rolling into broken bottles á la Harry Bradshaw.