Notes
about the game from Patty Ellis, Past Rules Chair
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Whose Turn Is It Anyway?
An often asked question in golf is: “My ball is off the green but closer to the hole than my playing companions’ balls which are on the green. Whose turn is to play?”
In casual play, it’s very common for the player whose ball is off the green to play onto the green before the other players putt. This is done to save time.
In tournament play, Rule 10 covers Order of Play. In Stroke Play, generally, there is no penalty. However, in Match Play, if a player plays out of turn, her competitor may request that she play her shot over.
There is an infamous Solheim Cup match play incident about this involving Pat Bradley (the Captain of the US Team) and Annika
Sorenstam (playing for Europe). Annika and Janice Moodie were playing a best-ball match against Kelly Robbins and Pat Hurst (not
Patty Hearst!). Sorenstam holed a chip shot for birdie. Then Robbins, lining up her putt, noticed that Sorenstam’s ball had been closer to the hole than hers. Sorenstam had played out of turn.
Pat Bradley, being within her rights to do so, made Sorenstam replay her shot. Sorenstam missed the chip and was visibly upset by
Bradley’s actions.
Pat Bradley’s decision was the golf shot heard round the world. She was cited in many periodicals and broadcasts for being unsportsmanlike and the incident was the talk of the golf world. Did she use every weapon she could to win? Yes. Did she make the most sportsmanlike choice? No. And, I believe her legacy, she’s in the LPGA Hall of Fame, has suffered for it.
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