Golf Powerless to Stem Growth in Tv Trials of Rule Breakers ; Officals Admit They Can't Prevent 'Trial by Tv' As Rules Row Deepens [Eire Region Edition 2]

Summary

---

SENIOR European Tour figures have admitted they are powerless to prevent future TV trials of their players similar to Friday's controversial decision to disqualify Padraig Harrington from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

An infringement of the rules by Ireland's triple Major-winning hero was spotted by an eagle-eyed viewer watching the desert tournament on a high-definition television from the comfort of his armchair and reported, much to the consternation of many of the game's biggest names.

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

Golf Powerless to Stem Growth in Tv Trials of Rule Breakers ; Officals Admit They Can't Prevent 'Trial by Tv' As Rules Row Deepens [Eire Region Edition 2]

Once the viewer's email reached tournament referee Andy McFee, he was left with no alternative but to review the action and impose the appropriate sanction.

Rules are rules and Harrington had brushed his ball with a finger as he removed his marker on the seventh green. Although, after settling, it had only moved by width of a golf ball dimple, he was in breach of golf rules.

And since he had already signed his card as a seven under par 65 without including a two shot penalty for the offence, McFee had to disqualify him ev...

See the full content of this document

---