Eliminating Ryder Cup mud balls

A number of balls plugged in the soggy turf, allowing relief under Rule 25-2, which permits the player to lift, clean, and drop the ball.

Graeme McDowell is a vocal opponent of “mud balls,” and has criticized both the USGA and the PGA of America for their intransigent position against the use of the “lift, clean and place” rule that is authorized by an appendix to the Rules of Golf for use in extremely adverse conditions.

The rule, which may be adopted at the discretion of tournament officials, states: “Conditions, such as extreme wetness causing significant amounts of mud to adhere to the ball, may be such that permission to lift, clean, and replace the ball would be appropriate.” And, as the Ryder Cup approaches (which is jointly governed by the PGA of America and PGA Europe), one is left to wonder if the lift, clean and place rule will be used if extreme weather conditions are encountered at Gleneagles, Scotland.

Regarding the problem of mud balls, Haigh noted that in many such situations the player has an option of taking relief from casual water, which permits cleaning the ball.

Asked to speculate about a rule change that would allow relief for mud balls without providing blanket lift, clean and place relief, he said: “That’s certainly something that’s been brought up, but I would be surprised to see a rule change.” Like the PGA of America, the USGA has never used the lift, clean and place rule in its championships.

Thomas Pagel, Senior Director of Rules of Golf and Amateur Status, told ESPN.com that the USGA’s policy is grounded in the two fundamental principles that underlie the rules: Play the ball as it lies, and play the course as you find it.

On the latter point, Slugger White, vice president of rules and competition for the PGA Tour, confirmed that the Tour does use the lift, clean and place rule “in extreme cases,” such as where it is too wet to mow fairways or there is no reasonable relief from casual water.

So if there is extremely wet weather at Gleneagles, perhaps the Ryder Cup officials will invoke the lift, clean and place rule.