What is it about golf rules that get us so hot under the collar? Tree-gate, as it’s now being called, divided opinion among commentators and spectators as Patrick Reed’s every movement was analysed and criticised at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Steve Carroll, who has passed the R&A’s top rules exam, is joined by Tom Irwin and the pair break down events in the palm tree during the third round of the DP World Tour event.
Steve thinks he might have found something in how a ball is identified that can offer some further insight into how the decision was reached.
We chat generally about golf’s moral code and why we get so wound up when rulings come under the microscope, both in the pro game and at our own clubs.
After Steve set tongues wagging with his ‘solution’ to some of the World Handicap System’s perceived ills, he doubles down on his reasoning for making every score count, while Tom thinks some our WHS complaints are not going to be settled in the short term.
Tom describes it as an “insightful discussion”. But we’ll let you be the judge! Happy listening…
The Slam: Who will win the Masters? (And will LIV spoil the party?)
From the Clubhouse: Is golf club membership worth the money?
The Slam: Should Team Europe be worried about another Ryder Cup thrashing?
From the Clubhouse: We talk WHS with England Golf’s Head of Handicapping James Luke
The Slam: Are divisions starting to form between LIV Golf players?
From the Clubhouse: Will the golf ball roll back be an issue for club golfers?
All the Gear: Golf ball roll back – what does it all mean?
The Slam: How does The Players compare to The Open?
From the Clubhouse: Are we too stuck in our ways to embrace different formats?
The Slam: We’re at The Players Championship! (And there’s plenty of controversy...)
From the Clubhouse: Are we seeing the death of roll ups?
All the Gear: Are white golf balls a thing of the past?
The Slam: Breaking down LIV Golf’s embarrassing week that proved it will never get the better of the PGA Tour
From the Clubhouse: Have clubs got to grips with golf’s controversial handicap scheme?
The Slam: Which player will be the first to quit LIV Golf? + The new ’Next Tiger Woods’
From the Clubhouse: Does golf really take too long?
All the Gear: Inside the PGA show (and playing TPC Sawgrass)
From the Clubhouse: Could five foot gimmes become a part of handicapping in the UK?
NCG Top 100s: Take a deep dive inside our list of Scotland’s best courses
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