Incorrect drop debate rages on

Tiger Woods will have to create history to win a fifth Masters title, but tournament officials at Augusta may secretly have wished someone else gets to pull on the famed Green Jacket.

If Woods fails to win a 15th major, and first since the 2008 US Open, the controversy will eventually die down, but a victory for the 37-year-old will ensure it remains a divisive issue.

Fred Ridley, Competition Committees at Augusta chairman admits he wished he had told Woods his drop had been under scrutiny, while former US Open champion Lucas Glover explained how such incidents are usually handled by officials in regular tour events.

“Any times there’s an outstanding issue that could have come up from a ruling, they’ll wait for you and say ‘Sorry, don’t sign your card, let’s talk about it,”’ Glover said. “They’ll do everything they can to keep you from signing your card if there’s an infraction that a rules official didn’t witness or that a question came up.”

Steve Stricker also pointed the finger at tournament officials, adding: “I think if they would have come up to him before he signed his card, he would have said ’Okay, let’s go through it and you’re right, I did take two steps back, it’s a two-shot penalty and signed for two shots higher, end of story.’ But I think the way it all played out, all in all they got it right. No doubt he (Woods) didn’t think he was violating the rules by any means and that’s what makes our sport unique and difficult to understand all at the same time.”

2012 winner Bubba Watson said he was in favour of rule 33-7 after twice being involved in rules debates prompted by viewers pointing out possible infractions. “I think the rule is great because it should protect us,” Watson said.

“When somebody calls in like that, it shouldn’t be allowed. Nobody calls in during a basketball game or a football game. You can make it (a phone call) and put bad press on somebody. All it takes is one person and bad press gets on you. When I won at Torrey Pines in 2011, somebody called in the Monday after and said that I improved my lie on 17 behind the green, when I never grounded my club. It’s probably just someone that hates Bubba Watson.”