Q. Can you ground a club in a hazard?
We all know you can take multiple clubs into a hazard and place the unneeded clubs in the hazard (for pace of play). You can also make contact with any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing during address and the swing (think tall grass).
But what about grounding the club you are actually using?
Case in point. In the final round of the LPGA's Kia Classic (March 30, 2010), Michelle Wie hit her approach shot into a water hazard. She elected to attempt the shot with one foot in the water and one foot on the bank. She swung and the ball made it out of the water but was still in the hazard. The video clearly shows Wie letting the club head rest on the bank inside the hazard after the first shot. As a result, she was penalized two strokes bumping her from second to sixth and losing $91,000 in prize money.
Now this is not a debate on what and why she did what she did so lets get back to the original question. Can you ground a club inside a hazard?
Still say no? Read on….
Rule 13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions – Exceptions – 1) Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or (b) places his clubs in a hazard.
Wie protested the 2 shot penalty based on Exception 1(a) stating she was trying to keep her balance because her right foot was in the mud. She lost her appeal. So who is correct? Wie or the officials?
Watch the video and judge for yourself.
Here's a link to a good video at Golf Channel.