Public perception must not sway law makers

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON'S disqualification in Abu Dhabi yesterday certainly conjures up the question once again as to whether or not the current rules of golf are too penal and are in need of revision.

Ironically, Harrington signed up a three-year deal to be the R&A Golf Club’s world ambassador just this week. Given their status as the official lawmakers for the game globally, this is an embarrassing moment for them. But it may nudge them towards examining some of the game’s rules to deem whether they’re fair or whether they are, in fact, damaging.

Golf has always been perceived as a “game of honour”, where the rules are largely self regulated. None more so that the professional game where many of its leading lights have called penalties on themselves.