Life and Death Cliffhanger

On February 5, 2022, Jordan Spieth was playing his third round in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links. On the 8th hole, his tee shot ran through the fairway and came to rest in a red penalty area:

The incident was recorded by a video camera onboard the blimp covering the tournament. While it is difficult to see in this video, the ball is reported to have settled no more than a foot from the edge of the cliff. A nearby warning sign advised: DANGER STEEP CLIFF. If this weren’t compelling enough, the commentary surrounding the situation conveyed the absolute peril created by the ball’s position. “No way you’d stand there and play that,” said analyst Nick Faldo.

Despite its precarious location, Mr. Spieth elected to play his ball as it lay, as was his right under USGA Rule 17.1b Red Penalty Areas. He also had the option to take penalty relief under Rule 17.1d for a penalty of one stroke. Buuuuut... this being golf and all…

Mr. Spieth is later reported to have stated, “Looking back now, it was not smart. I wish I hadn’t [taken the shot]. In fact, I regret doing it.”

I submit that Mr. Spieth should not have been given the opportunity to take this shot in the first place. The 2019 Rules of Golf defines a “No Play Zone” as: A part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play. A no play zone must be defined as part of either an abnormal course condition or a penalty area. In fact, one of the examples describing an appropriate use of a No Play Zone declaration states: [To protect] players from danger. I can’t think of a more fitting circumstance in which to declare a No Play Zone than the one depicted in this video.

Had this area been so declared, Mr. Spieth would have been required to take free relief under Rule 16.1f: If the player’s ball is in a no play zone, the player must take free relief under Rule 16.1b (which describes the procedure for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition, such as an immovable obstruction, ground under repair, etc.) I can only hope that this incident will inspire future tournament committees to take more liberal use of this authority!