Golf Powerless to Stem Growth in Armchair Vigilantes ; Officals Admit They Can't Prevent 'Trial by Tv' As Rules Row Deepens [Eire Region]

Summary

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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.

A minor 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.

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Extract

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Golf Powerless to Stem Growth in Armchair Vigilantes ; Officals Admit They Can't Prevent 'Trial by Tv' As Rules Row Deepens [Eire Region]

Once the viewer's email reached tournament referee Andy McFee, he was left with no alternative but to review the action and impose a draconian penalty out of proportion to the offence.

All Harrington had done was brush his ball with a finger as he removed his marker on the seventh green.

Although it only moved with 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 pen...

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