Since Tiger never knew this rule, I'll bet there are other incidents where he had illegal drops. Perhaps in some of his major wins. You know people are gonna go back and review the videos.

Maybe other golfers have done so as well, but I have to believe that 99% of pro golfers know this rule. Not Tiger. Once again, that's the most amazing thing to me.

And it's clear he wasn't trying to cheat as he admitted it in his interview. His admission is the only reason they penalized him. They thought it was clean initially.

What? If he was trying to cheat you don't incriminate yourself. Had he not talked about his drop in the interview nothing is done to him. How many bank robbers run to reporters to talk about robbing the bank? I agree. Ignorance doesn't make it "OK". He should have known and deserves the 2 stroke penalty. I'm just saying it wasn't his intention to cheat. He simply didn't know the rule.

Azinger, who has been pointing for this tournament since losing a four-way playoff here to Greg Norman last year, will again have to wait until next year. After he posted a 65 today, officials informed Azinger that a tape of a television telecast showed he had moved loose impediments after taking his stance in a water hazard while playing his final hole on Thursday.

A television viewer who said he was calling from Colorado told PGA Tour officials this morning that he had seen Azinger break the rule during the Thursday telecast on the USA cable network. When the PGA Tour tournament director, Mike Shea, reviewed the tape, he agreed that Azinger had in fact violated rule 13-4, subsection C of the Rules of Golf. Unaware of Violation

Because Azinger had not assessed himself a two-stroke penalty for the violation, he signed an incorrect scorecard by approving his first-round score of 69. Signing for a score that is lower than what a player actually shot calls for an automatic disqualification in professional golf.

"It's disappointing because I've been playing so well," said Azinger, who added that he was not aware he was breaking a rule. "I was playing well enough to win the tournament. Last year was a major disappointment, and I've always focused toward this tournament."

Azinger committed the infraction while taking his stance for a wedge shot out of the the water hazard on the 425-yard, par-4 18th hole. After settling into his stance, Azinger used his left foot to kick away several rocks. Taking a Stance

"I was just trying to assume a stance," said Azinger, who, after being shown a videotape, at first protested his disqualification. "It was a subconscious thing, to dig my foot in there to get a stance. It had zero influence on the shot that I played."

But Azinger, who appealed the decision by telephone to the PGA Tour commissioner, Deane Beman, also conceded that he had illegally moved a loose impediment in a hazard.

Azinger's disqualification was nearly identical to an incident involving Craig Stadler at the 1987 San Diego Open. In the third round, Stadler placed a towel on the ground to kneel on while swinging at a ball lying under a tree. But a television viewer called in the next day contending that the use of the towel constituted a violation of the rule prohibiting "building a stance." Officials concurred, and Stadler was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Only in golf can you review tape, and a day later decide to penalize a guy. Heard on the Score this morning that a fan had called the PGA last night bitching that it was a bad drop. In my world, if you don't catch right away, it's a done issue.

Bullshit only in golf can you cheat and get away with it ! Chief

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

In baseball, batters routinely erase the back line of the batter's box in order to stand further back.

They never are punished for breaking the rules.

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

Bullshit only in golf can you cheat and get away with it ! Chief

No, there aren't many, if any, other players that were given a 2 stroke penalty the next day and allowed to keep playing. So you're a genius....

They changed the rule last year, maybe year before? To allow for that type of ruling. There were no three pointers made before the 3 point line was created either..

This rule was finally explained to me by a friend. Nobody in the media that I've seen has bothered to explain it well.

You're allowed to back up the drop if the ball lands in the water. But only if it's the same angle where the ball went into the water. Most of the time that's the case. Tiger hit the pin and it kicked left. So he wasn't allowed to back it up at the spot of the shot. Had to be a drop where it was.

OK. Now I get why he didn't know the rule. I was under the impression that you couldn't back it up, period!!! It's rare that a ball would kick off a flag into the water. Now I get why Tiger didn't know the rule. He should have. But it's not a common occurance.

Im pretty hammered right now.

If you hate Laurence, then don't listen - don't comment. When he co-hosts the B&B show, take that day off ... listen to an old podcast of a Bernstein solo show and jerk off all day.

My issue with a dq is the fact that originally the official ruled it ok. Why should he penalize himself if a course official rules the play legal?

I'm satisfied with how everything went. The new rule is in place and must be followed as well.

Exactly.

To be fair, my knee-jerk reaction was that Tiger should DQ himself. After gaining a better understanding of what actually happened, I now realize that everything was decided in complete accordance of the Rule.

Agreed as this was my same reaction.

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.

People calling for his DQ now are speaking solely from some other motive.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

Because they hate balcks?