Euro Tour Pro DQ’d For Running Out Of Golf Balls
- Updated: November 9, 2019
Twitter/@muggsnmanor
Do you remember that final scene in Tin Cup when Roy McAvoy almost runs out of balls on the final hole of the U.S. Open? What if we told you that actually happened in real life on the European Tour on Saturday but the result was a DQ instead of the “greatest 12 of all time.” Gimme another ball!
England’s Eddie Pepperell didn’t make it past the par-5 4th hole (his 13th of the day) during the third round of the Turkish Airlines Open after apparently hitting all the golf balls in his bag into the water and was disqualified.
Per the AP, here’s what went down:
England’s Eddie Pepperell did not even finish his round and was disqualified for failing to complete the fourth hole, his 13th of the day.
Pepperell was 2 over for the round after dropping shots on the second and third and then hit his approach to the next into the water guarding the green. In a scene reminiscent of the ”Tin Cup” film, Pepperell had several more attempts – even his caddie could not say for certain whether it was four or five – before informing playing partners Martin Kaymer and George Coetzee that he had run out of balls.
The official reason for the disqualification was listed as “failure to complete a hole.” LOL! As amateur golfers, we are very familiar with this situation especially after our 8th shot on a par-3.
“Eddie hit his shots to the green, then came over to tell us he had run out of balls,” Kaymer told reporters in Turkey, according to Golf Channel. “Then he walked off. I thought he lost four or five. We are about 80 percent sure it was five, 20 percent four. He was quick, so it was hard to keep track. He did not ask if he could borrow one from me or George. It did not look like he wanted to play. He did not putt with his putter on the third hole; he putted with a wedge. So there was a lot happening. I have never seen anything like that before. I only watched it on television, in ‘Tin Cup.’ This is the first time I have seen it live.”
Not all heroes wear capes! You have to respect Pepperell’s level determination and confidence to pull off the shot regardless of the consequences.
Also, note the fact Kaymer said Pepperell putted with a wedge on the previous hole. Was his putter bent? Did he just not care? These are all valid arguments. As David Simms once famously said to Roy McAvoy, “when you go down, you go down in flames.”
But as a pro golfer, you have to know how many balls are in your bag, right? There’s no way he didn’t know he was running out of ammunition. It had to be a conscious choice. When you or your caddie reach their hand into the golf ball pocket in the bag and there’s one left, that should be a red flag.
Even Phil Mickelson chimed in on social media and he’s “surprised that’s never happened” to him yet. The keyword being YET!
I’m surprised this hasn’t happened to me yet. 🤔
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) November 9, 2019
Can you borrow a ball from a fellow competitor?
We looked and honestly can’t find a definitive definition of the rule. We definitely know you can’t borrow clubs from somebody else. We also know it’s impossible to play golf without golf balls.
Technically Pepperell could’ve asked his playing partners for a ball but ran the risk of a DQ if the “One Ball Rule” was implemented by the tournament committee.
According to the FAQ page on USGA:
Q: If a player runs out of golf balls during a round, may he borrow a ball from another player?
A: Yes. There is nothing in the Rules of Golf that prohibits a player from borrowing a golf ball from an opponent or fellow-competitor. A player who runs out of balls may get a new supply from any source, provided he does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7) in the process. Although golf balls are part of a player`s equipment, the only type of equipment that the Rules limit the borrowing of is clubs Rule 4-4 (Decision 5-1/5).
Q: What does the “One Ball Condition” mean?
A: The Rules of Golf do not require a player to use the same brand and type of golf ball throughout the stipulated round. A player may use a different ball to start each hole. However, the Committee may adopt as a Condition of a Competition, the “One Ball Condition.” When this condition is adopted, players are required to use the same brand and type of golf ball throughout the stipulated round. Please refer to Appendix 1; Part C; 1 (Specification of the Ball).
One more for you … are you allowed to drop a different brand of golf ball than the one you teed off with on the same hole with if you lose it in competition? We couldn’t find an answer. If somebody out there has any idea, please let us know. This seems like something that you should be able to type into Google and not generate 10,000 different answers.
There is also no rule that states the max amount of golf balls a golfer is allowed to carry in competition. Feel free to carry 6 dozen if that makes you comfortable. Might make your bag a bit heavy though…
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