The Masters competition committee’s decision to assess Tiger Woods a two-stroke penalty for an illegal drop on Friday is not unprecedented in tournament history. There have, in fact, been dozens of controversial rulings at the Masters over the year, some of them favorable toward the player and others unfavorable. Here are three favorable ones:
ARNOLD PALMER, 1958
Situation: Palmer was playing with Ken Venturi in the final round when his shot to No. 12 sailed the green and came to rest in mud. Palmer believed his ball was embedded, and he should be allowed to get a drop. Venturi agreed. However, the rules official on the scene, Arthur Lacey, a former president of the British PGA, did not. An argument ensued, and Palmer declared that he was going to play two balls. He made double bogey out of the embedded lie and saved par when he dropped.
What happened: Venturi felt Palmer committed a rules violation when he played the second ball and told him so at the time. Venturi said Palmer should have played the two balls concurrently, rather than after playing out the first ball. Palmer went on to eagle No. 13, was informed on No. 15 that his score on No. 12 should indeed be 3. Palmer went on to shoot 284 to beat Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins by one stroke and Venturi by two.
DOW FINSTERWALD, 1960
Situation: As was commonplace in the day, Dow Finsterwald was practice putting on the No. 1 green after holing out in the second the round of the Masters. He was informed by playing partner Billy Casper that was against the rules as the Masters had adopted the new PGA Tour rule preventing such a practice. Finsterwald immediately went to a rules official to inform him what he had done and that he had done it repeatedly the previous day.
What happened: Finsterwald was told to play on and that the committee would inform him of a ruling after the round. Finsterwald was informed after posting a second-round 70 that he was being assessed a two-stroke penalty on his previous-day's score of 69, which would go down as a 71. He was not disqualified or assessed another penalty in the second-round as his actions did not have an effect on his play since he had holed out.
ERNIE ELS, 2004
Situation: Els pulled his tee shot deep into the woods left of the 11th fairway in the third round. It came to rest among loose branches and grass-clippings that reportedly had been discarded there by grounds crews. Els asked for relief, but the on-site official determined none was available by rule. However, Els appealed to the Masters competition rules chairman, who ruled that relief could be taken under Rule 25-1b.
What happened: Els took a drop in the woods and punched the ball out. He was able to advance the shot down the fairway and scrambled for a bogey 5. He ended up shooting 71 for the round and finished the tournament with a score of 280, one behind winner Phil Mickelson.
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