McIlroy plunged his tee shot into the water at the 7th hole (par 4) in the second half of the first round of the PGA Tour Players Championship at SoGrath TPC (par 72) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on the 15th (Korea time).
The issue at hand was the location of the drop after receiving the first penalty. The issue was whether McIlroy’s ball landed on or below the red line, which means water hazard. If McIlroy’s ball crossed the line and went into the water, he can drop near it. If he failed to cross the line and fell into the water, however, he would have to return to the teeing area and play his third shot, which means he would lose money at a distance.
McIlroy’s companion player, Spieth, said, “I didn’t see for sure if McIlroy’s ball crossed the red line,” and McIlroy protested, “I saw it crossed the red line.”
The Associated Press also reported, “At one point, the conversation between Spieth, McIlroy, and McIlroy’s caddie Harry Diamond was annoying as if it had sharpened.”
“From what I heard, everyone was sure the ball didn’t cross the line 100 percent,” Spieth said.
Then Diamond, McIlroy’s caddie, asked back, “Who says they are all, Jordan?” and McIlroy added, “Who are you talking about?”
The game committee member arrived at the scene, but it was of little use because the game committee member also did not see the shot, and the broadcast camera could not accurately capture where the ball fell.
Eventually, McIlroy did not return to the teeing area and took his third shot near where the ball fell. His third shot did not reach the green and McIlroy made a double bogey on the hole.
The Associated Press added that it took McIlroy 30 minutes to finish the seventh hole.
After the game, Hovlan declined to comment on the situation at the time, and Spieth went straight into the clubhouse, according to the Associated Press.
“I’m not going to say (the argument with Spieth) was unnecessary,” McIlroy said after the first round, adding, “I think Jordan was trying to make sure what happened was right.”
“I was almost certain that my ball fell over the line. There was no evidence left on the TV, but I was sure. I think Jordan was trying to make sure I was doing the right thing,” he stressed.
McIlroy added, “I’m a believer in karma. I don’t try to do anything wrong on the course, I always try to do the right thing by the rules.”
McIlroy made a double bogey on the seventh hole, but swept 10 birdies and recorded one bogey, tying for the lead with 7-under 65.
“I wish I had hit 62 and the ball didn’t fall into the water twice,” he said.
BY: 토토사이트