Jon Rahm’s football decision highlights the gray area in charge

JOHANNESBURG — When Jon Rahm got his opening shot to left in the third round of LIV South Africa, he called the rules official to make sure his ball connected with its pitch mark, a situation in which the rules would give him a free break.

The official, Grover Walker, thirty years of USGA referee experience, arrived and, in short, agreed with Rahm and Rahm’s caddy, Adam Hayes: the ball is embedded. Hayes noted that “the root system has passed.”

That the ball is connected is not surprising. The Steyn City Club was rained out this week, and Rahm attempted to drive the green, a 330-yard hole with more than 100 fairways. His gun landed on the ground not far from the river. Seconds before Rahm let his ball fly, his teammate, Dean Burmester, also connected, albeit on the fairway.

However, what is not clear is whether Rahm’s ball went in his own the pitch mark, which is a necessary relief.

The LIV broadcast appeared to show something different: Rahm’s drive hitting the ground and bouncing forward about two feet in the air before disappearing into the Kikuyu rough. Did the ball go into another player’s territory, everyone on the ground didn’t know? Definitely. Pitch marks do not have initials. Did the ball, after binding, enter it the second time plus tag? That is possible but very unlikely. What made it even more difficult was that Rahm, due to his poor vision from the tee, couldn’t see his ball landing, meaning all he could do was check his lie as he found it and follow the umpire’s direction.

LIV Golf released a brief statement on the decision:

“At the start of the 3rd Round, Jon Rahm’s shot on Hole 1 landed in a difficult spot. Rahm sought the umpire’s advice to see if his ball was in. After consulting with the umpire, it was determined that the ball was in the middle and he got relief before hitting the second shot.

“Per rule 16.3, a bounced ball can still be embedded on its pitchmark and does not automatically beat the free kick.”

LIV rules officials come from across the golf industry – with experience overseeing USGA, LPGA and regional golf association events. They are empowered to rely on LIV’s “Anytime” replay technology for more information than is available at the decision point but only do so if there is any question or uncertainty about the decision. If there is no doubt, the officer makes the call and the team moves on. This time, Rahm and Walker agreed on what might happen, as did Brett Rumford, the team’s traveling broadcaster.

Although the Rules of Golf are often winded, there is still a gray area and the need for judgment calls, especially in the wet. Replays cast doubt on whether Rahm’s ball was marked, but how quickly could that information have been relayed to the umpire? It doesn’t take much for a ball to be considered “embedded,” as evidenced by this diagram from the USGA. Also, eyewitnesses weren’t given Rahm’s ball landed far from the hole, maybe 70 yards from any fans.

As Rahm received his decision, LIV analyst David Feherty reviewed the replay on the radio and offered his own assessment.

“Oh, no, that’s not buried,” said Feherty to his booth partner Nico Colsaerts. “It’s interesting, Nico, that you get a drop there. That ball looks like it’s buried, and it can do that on this Kikuyu grass.”

“Yes, but the referee is standing,” said Colsaerts. “He is the one who makes the decision.”

After getting relief, Rahm got up to three feet and made the next putt for his eight birdies of the day.

“I took advantage of the break,” Feherty said.

Rahm posted a 7-under 64 on Saturday to go 18 under for the week. He is behind Bryson DeChambeau with 18 holes to play.