One of golf’s more contentious rules has been revised in the men's elite game, which means a player stepping outside the scoring area won’t necessarily face disqualification if they sign an incorrect scorecard.
Now, there will be a 15-minute grace period for players to return and correct an issue without penalty, and PGA Tour pros have been quick to offer their thoughts.
One was 2018 John Deere Classic champion Michael Kim, who confirmed the news on X, and welcomed the change, writing: “Oh wow. Just announced a rule change where even if you leave the scoring area, you get a 15 minute buffer window to make any changes to your score without getting DQ. I think it’s way better this way. Hopefully no more scorecard DQs in the future.”
Oh wow. Just announced a rule change where even if you leave the scoring area, you get a 15 minute buffer window to make any changes to your score without getting DQ. I think it’s way better this way. Hopefully no more scorecard DQs in the future.June 18, 2024
Kim also posted more details from a screenshot of a document outlining the change, and it confirmed it will come into effect throughout much of the men’s professional game immediately.
It states: “With the support of the USGA and R&A, this amendment to the terms of our competition will go into effect on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas the week of June 17-23. The DP World will implement it also.”
For those interested pic.twitter.com/3su7oM04v8June 18, 2024
Another PGA Tour pro, Andrew Putnam, questioned why players need to keep their own score to begin with. He wrote on X: “Such a dumb rule. In what other sport do players keep their scores?! We all have walking scorers with every group and every shot is calculated to the yard. Cmonnn people.”
Such a dumb rule. In what other sport do players keep their scores?! We all have walking scorers with every group and every shot is calculated to the yard. Cmonnn people. Will be discussing this with @shanebacon today on the pod. https://t.co/KD3v4fQDE8June 18, 2024
Popular X account Monday Q Info, which is run by Ryan French, believes the change has merit, although he’s convinced one particular disqualification in recent months has helped push it through.
He wrote: “Thousands of players sign incorrect score cards across the world …..No rule change. Jordan Spieth does it once in a signature event….rule changes 6 weeks later. (I think it is a good rule change, just saying Jordan’s DQ helped the process).”
Thousands of players sign incorrect score cards across the world …..No rule change. Jordan Spieth does it once in a signature event….rule changes 6 weeks later. (I think it is a good rule change, just saying Jordan’s DQ helped the process) pic.twitter.com/GxTaLSJn84June 18, 2024
The incident he referred to happened in February at the Genesis Invitational. Back then, three-time Major winner Spieth appeared set for the weekend’s action after signing for a 72 after his second round.
However, he’d missed that his scorecard equated to a par on the par-3 fourth after he had actually made bogey - pushing his total to 73. Spieth left the scoring area and was subsequently disqualified.
Jordan Spieth's appearance at the Genesis Invitational was cut short after he fell foul of the scorecard rule
Afterwards, he wrote on X: "Today, I signed for an incorrect scorecard and stepped out of the scoring area, after thinking I went through all procedures to make sure it was correct. Rules are rules, and I take full responsibility."
Given the new safeguard, moments of that nature could be about to become a thing of the past – or at the very least a decidedly less common occurrence.
