Until April 2017, the Rules of Golf gave no weight or consideration to reasonable judgment, if the player ends up playing from a wrong place as a result of an estimate or measurement that turns out to be wrong, even by a small distance, the player will incur a penalty. With the exception of estimating the entry point of a ball into a water hazard [Penalty Area since 2019] where there is no penalty if it was an honest judgment.
On April 25, 2017, the R&A and the USGA amended the Rules of Golf to introduce (1) the notion of player's reasonable judgment and (2) the “naked eye” standard when using video evidence. This followed multiple incidents that have occurred on the professional tours, including the one that cost Lexi Thompson victory in the 1st LPGA Tour major of 2017, when she got a 4-stroke penalty on the 4th round of the 2017 ANA Inspiration, for replacing her ball within about an inch from the ball marker on the 17th green of the 3rd round, an infraction reported by a viewer comfortably seated on his sofa.
The Player's Reasonable Judgment :
Reasonable judgment is a natural and appropriate extension of the trust placed in the player by the rules of golf, the application of which is generally based on the player's honesty.
In many situations, the rules of golf require a player to estimate or measure a location, point, line, area or distance. Such measurements or estimates must be made quickly and carefully, but can often lack precision. As long as the player does all that can reasonably be expected under the circumstances to proceed accurately, his judgment will be accepted even if, after the stroke is played, other information shows that this judgment was wrong.
The “Naked Eye” Standard When Using Video Evidence:
Accepting the player’s reasonable judgment limits any new assessments, including those resulting from the use of high-definition technology such as video images.
While the use of video images can be of valuable assistance in helping to resolve questions of fact, they can reveal factual information that could not reasonably have been seen with the naked eye. Therefore, it is unfair to use these images to penalize a player for facts that he clearly could not have known and apprehended.
Rules of Golf
[R1.3b(2)] Accepting Player’s “Reasonable Judgment” in Determining a Location When Applying the Rules
- Many Rules require a player to determine a spot, point, line, edge, area or other location under the Rules, such as:
- Estimating where a ball last crossed the edge of a penalty area,
- Estimating or measuring when dropping or placing a ball in taking relief,
- Replacing a ball on its original spot (whether the spot is known or estimated),
- Determining the area of the course where the ball lies, including whether the ball lies on the course, or
- Determining whether the ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course condition.
- Such determinations about location need to be made promptly and with care but often cannot be precise
- So long as the player does what can be reasonably expected under the circumstances to make an accurate determination, the player’s reasonable judgment will be accepted even if, after the stroke is made, the determination is shown to be wrong by video evidence or other information.
- If a player becomes aware of a wrong determination before the stroke is made, it must be corrected (see Rule 14.5).
[R20.2c] Applying “Naked Eye” Standard When Using Video Evidence When the Committee is deciding questions of fact in making a ruling, the use of video evidence is limited by the “naked eye” standard:
- If the facts shown on the video could not reasonably have been seen with the naked eye, that video evidence will be disregarded even if it indicates a breach of the Rules.
- But even where video evidence is disregarded under the “naked eye” standard, a breach of the Rules will still be found if the player was otherwise aware of facts establishing a breach (such as where the player felt the club touch sand in a bunker even though that could not be seen by the naked eye).
