Fore please: The 2021 Masters thread

[Cosmo]

I am not a rules maven but is the fact that he's not in a hazard in this photo make that action merely unethical. Seems like he would have trouble getting away with something that blatant.

The Rules have changed some since this happened. There is no issue now with grounding your club in a penalty area. The only place you can't ground your club prior to a shot is in a bunker. As for moving loose impediments, that's allowed everywhere now. But it has to be loose. You can't pull a stray tree root out of the ground. You can't bend a branch to improve the conditions affecting the stroke. But leaves, rocks, etc., etc., get them out of your way if need be. Just don't move your ball in the process.

 

[hondo]

I don't know if that's fair for Nicklaus; I don't see him as a self-promoter as much as a guy who just doesn't turn down any interviews and fully enjoys his sage-wise-man status.

Player is a huge windbag. He claims that he flew more miles than anyone else on Earth during his playing days, which is a stretch. He flew more than any other golfer. I get the impression that his peers (well, whoever's left) just roll their eyes at his six decades plus of blather.

They do. One of the great moments in this regard was when Arnold first served as the honorary starter the same year Player started, missed the cut with about an 81-79, and broke Arnie's Masters starts record. When asked in the news conference about Player saying he was so proud of breaking Palmer's record, Palmer replied "I don't give a **** what Gary thinks."

 

[Neutral Corner]

I had missed this. Perhaps you did too.