Delay After Putt Leads to Janzen’s Disqualification
Lee Janzen waited a long time for his birdie putt to tumble into the cup on the 17th green in Thursday’s opening round of the NEC World Series of Golf at Akron, Ohio. It wasn’t worth the wait.
On Friday, the PGA Tour, made aware of the situation by television viewers, disqualified the U.S. Open champion--on his 34th birthday--for signing an incorrect scorecard because he failed to add a penalty stroke for the delay.
Rule 16-2 of the Rules of Golf stipulates that “when any part of the ball overhangs the lip of the hole, the player is allowed enough time to reach the hole without reasonable delay and an additional 10 seconds to determine whether the ball is at rest.”
ESPN timed Janzen at 27 seconds, while tour officials said they had “liberally” estimated the time at 20 seconds.
Janzen told tour officials he believed the ball was still moving. Players are not permitted to strike a ball that is moving.
“After 10 seconds, the ball is considered at rest, whether it is or not,” PGA Tour rules official Mark Russell said.
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