Tuesday Trifles

Just a few quick items then I need to get back to planning our trip...

The Art of The Non-Apology - LPGA fans, and I'm speaking to both of you, Christie Kerr feels your pain and wants you to know that she's really very, very.....well, very something:

Hmmm...it's often said that a blind shot is only blind the first time through....  Under that theory, a tricky hole... well, you can complete the thought.  Just a reminded that she played the hole ten times, not including practice rounds and the Pro-Am.

Though this seems especially weaselly:

Next she'll be telling us that Haru Nomura wore a short skort and had it coming....

And while we're on the LPGA, the forthcoming ShopRite Classic in Atlantic City has decided to award a sponsor's exemption based upon a Twitter vote.  Wait, that's not the funny part... Here's the ballot:

Can anyone deduce the common thread, excuse me, the qualification criteria?  Let's see how long it takes our Sherlocks out there....This is Susana Benavides:

This is Carly Booth:

Anybody getting warm?  This would be Sharmila:

I see issues with her takeaway....but that's perhaps not important now.  And to complete the set, you've no doubt met Blair O'Neal:

The common thread eludes this writer, but I'm sure the screening process was rigorous...  I do understand, though, that Paige Spirinac will be filing suit to gain ballot access.

These girls can play as slowly as they choose, but there has to be some ugly pushback, no?  And yes, the wording was intentional... 

Reading Greens - I played ya there, but get this from the USGA:

Joint Statement Regarding Green-Reading Materials 

May 1, 2017 

The R&A and the USGA believe that a player's ability to read greens is an essential part of the skill of putting. Rule 14-3 limits the use of equipment and devices that might assist a player in their play, based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the judgement, skills and abilities of the player. We are concerned about the rapid development of increasingly detailed materials that players are using to help with reading greens during a round. We are reviewing the use of these materials to assess whether any actions need to be taken to protect this important part of the game. We expect to address this matter further in the coming months.

Holy yardage book, Batman!  You'd think they have to be kidding, but they're actually not....  No sense showing up to the Open early folks...

Shack has a Golfweek item in which he informs of the reason for the concern:

Those massive green reading books used by an increasing number of PGA Tour players

are now under review by the governing bodies. 

It all sounds so … proactive. 

Traditionalists will swoon. 

The core values of the game will be upheld. 

Old Tom can stop spinning. 

Those infernal green reading books merely mark a natural progression of traditional yardage books. 

The real problem with players consulting intricate charts before hitting their putts?

Optics and pace of play.

I'm not sure how I feel about this, as the focus on optics seems petty.  Here's Geoff's take:

If a player wants to roll out a scroll longer than the Bill of Rights, consult astrological forecasts, pray to the Golf God of Putting and repeat a mantra 30 times before pulling the trigger, that should be their right. 

As long as they do so within 45 seconds.

I'd suggest that we try enforcing the pace-of-play rules and see where we are, but the weekend showed us that that's an iffy prospect.  

I'll give this one some thought and let you know how my thought process evolves...

But as long as we're focused on our rules-makers, let's revisit the Tour Confidential panel and their take on last week's rules change:

4. The USGA and the R&A added Decision 34-3/10, which is designed to limit the use of video replay and hinder viewers from calling in potential rules violations. But has that much really changed with the introduction of the so-called "Lexi Rule"?

Ritter: The tours gave themselves some wiggle room to ignore call-ins, but only as they see fit. I still hate that players can be penalized for signing an incorrect scorecard for a penalty that's enforced retroactively. Overall, the rule is a move in the right direction—golf was heading toward "Dancing With the Stars" territory. (Do you think Lexi made a par? Call in and vote now!) But there's more work to be done. 

Bamberger: Well said, Alan. And this is not the Lexi Rule. Nothing in the decision (in my opinion) would have changed in Thompson's situation. That was not a best-effort marking. If she marks her ball correctly, there's no issue, as Alan notes.

Nobody even mentioned the task force working group modified limited hangout....  here's what they've accomplished:  As Josh Ritter, notes, they've given the tours the flexibility to handle video in the manner of their choosing...  But to be clear, they've had this right all along.  

As with the ball moving on the green, DJ-gate if you will, they've added ambiguity to the rules and they may have to go at it a second time....

Balls Said the Queen - My people have just the word for this occasion:

See if you agree about this:

5. The USGA rejected the request of Wisconsin's own Steve Stricker for a special exemption into the U.S. Open, which will be played on June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Hartford, Wis. Should the USGA have shown a little heart?

What the hell was he thinking?  Does that mean that I get in when the Open returns to Winged Foot?

These guys give the appropriate answers:

Ritter: I'm a Stricker fan, but this is the national championship. You've gotta earn your spot. 

Shipnuck: Exactly. Golf is the ultimate meritocracy, and the Open especially so. Stricker can still play his way in through qualifying. If he wanted to play in this Open so much he should've gotten off his couch and tried harder to become exempt.

Bamberger: And it's not a rejection. It's an honor to get one, and the USGA decided, in its wisdom, that this was not an honor that Steve Stricker needed to receive. I bet he still plays his way in. 

Well played, guys, as expected from grizzled veterans in your profession.   Now we come to Jessica Marksbury, whose qualifications for her position elude me, but who could have been on that ShopRite ballot above:

Marksbury: I didn't even know special exemptions were a thing until recently. If Steve doesn't qualify, I wonder who does?

Jessica, I'm going to type very slowly in the hope that you can follow my nuanced logic.  How about someone that's won a professional golf tournament more prestigious than the John Deere?