GROUND UNDER REPAIR SAVES THE DAY
Ernie Els’ fortunate meeting in the weeds

This year’s Masters Tournament saw its share of great shots, great stories and great breaks. One fortunate bounce for Ernie Els ended up saving the day and helped him shave at least one stroke off his score during the third round.

When Els reached the 11th tee, he was faced with one of the most challenging tee shots at Augusta National Golf Club. A long par-4 of 490 yards, the 11th now features a new grove of trees along the right side that now forces golfers to play down the left side of the fairway. After hitting a hooked drive that finished 25 feet into the dense trees to the left of the fairway, Els faced a nearly unplayable lie on arguably the most difficult hole on the course. Stymied by several loose tree limbs and twigs, making a score of double-bogey would have been great, and a higher score would be possible.

In hopes of receiving a favorable ruling, Els requested the help of a rules official in determining his options. Not one, but two officials issued the ruling that no relief would be given. Well within his rights, Els requested for another official’s opinion. The third official would be the Augusta National rules chairman, and his opinion was different from the other officials’ opinions. His local knowledge of the golf course and the superintendent’s plans included the tree limbs and brush located around Els’ ball.

Els was granted relief under Rule 25-1 (Abnormal Ground Conditions). It was determined that Els’ ball was lying in ground under repair because the limbs and brush were piled for removal. Due to the interference, Els was permitted to drop his ball within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than his nearest point of relief. After dropping, he proceeded to pitch out to the fairway, play his third stroke onto the green and take two putts for a bogey, saving at least one, and probably more, strokes.

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