Some Cheese with that Whine, Sir?

Strange doings in Abu Dhabi... Shortly after holing out for what appeared to be a 68,  it was revealed by European Tour officials that Rory McIlroy was assessed a two shot penalty for an improper drop.  This Golf Central piece gives the particulars on the incident, and it appears that Tour rules officials did their job in ensuring that Rory didn't sign an incorrect scorecard.

The lack of interest in and utter ignorance of the rules of golf by those making a living at the game is a continuing source of amazement.  We see this movie time and again in the course of the season, and it remains completely inexplicable.  In the present case, instead of being one shot off the lead and in the final group, Rory finds himself three shots back and tied for third.  

In the case of Rory's penalty, we're not talking about anything particularly complicated.  The gist of the rule is that when you take relief from something (a road, cart path, temporary immovable obstruction, etc.), you must take complete relief.  Now it's true that half the guys at my club don't know this, but they play me for money, so by definition they can't be all that bright....(we kid because we love).

Faldo actually made a good point when discussing this (I know, I've marked my calendar).  Someone told a story of Annika Sorenstam going to a 4-day rules seminar and, when asked if she would do it again, said she wouldn't, but she might send her caddy.  Come to think of it, Faldo didn't so much make a good point as repeat one made by Annika.

So, where was Rory's caddy, not to mention his playing partner and his caddy?  

Rory's post-round comments can be found here.  The video is not available on YouTube and I need to mobilize the Unplayable Lies IT Department to teach me how to embed video from other sources.  His attitude wasn't too bad considering his disappointment, but he did make one comment he might wish back.  To wit, there are "A lot of stupid rules in golf."  Rory, you are by all accounts a nice young man and I don't want this to sound unduly harsh, but in this instance at least it wasn't the rule that was stupid.