On Tuesday, the PGA Tour sent out an internal memo detailing a notable amendment to its current rulebook. Colloquially dubbed the “Jordan Spieth Rule,” golfers now will be allotted 15 minutes to verify their scorecards, beginning at this week's Travelers Championship.
Back in February, at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles — a premier signature event hosted by Tiger Woods — Jordan Spieth was disqualified after the second round for signing an incorrect scorecard.
The three-time major winner (and PGA Tour policy board member) bogeyed the par-3 4th hole after missing a five-footer for par. However, he mistakenly signed for a par. His card showed a 1-over 72. He shot a 73.
At the time, Spieth — who was 10 strokes back of leader Patrick Cantlay entering the weekend — didn't protest the ruling nor deny the error. The PGA Tour veteran explained that he rushed to sign and submit it before rushing to the restroom. (Spieth and many others were battling stomach issues throughout the week.)
“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,” Spieth posted on social media. “Rules are rules, and I take full responsibility. I love this tournament and golf course as much as any on tour, so it hurts to not have a run at the weekend.”
Across most realms of professional golf, a player's scorecard is considered officially “returned” once he or she hands it in — immediately after coming off the course — and then departs the “scoring area.”
According to the amendment — created in concert with the DP World Tour, R&A, and USGA, per the PGA Tour — players will now have a buffer period to “correct an error on his scorecard, even if he has left the scoring area.”
Even if a player turns in his scorecard, if he realizes there's an error within those 15 minutes, he can make the correction. The PGA Tour said the goal of the change is “minimizing penalties or disqualifications related to scorecard errors,” a la Spieth at the Genesis.
Players were informed at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. of the upcoming change, per the Washington Post. The USGA instituted the updated definition of “returning” a scorecard at the U.S. Women’s Open.
“For an honest mistake that I guess could be the difference in the tournament, I think it’s great,” Spieth said, via the Post. “I don’t think it’s a skill of the game, especially at the professional level. If somebody plugged in a wrong score, they can go back and replug it in.”
PGA Tour pro Michael Kim shared the memo on X.
“In general, all players will have the ability to correct an error within this 15-minute period which may have previously resulted in disqualification,” it reads. “However, exceptions may apply when constraints within the competition limit a player’s correction time to less than 15 minutes, such as releasing tee times following the cut, starting a playoff or the close of competition.”
The rule will be implemented this week on the DP World Tour and across PGA Tour-sanctioned events, including the Champions Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas.
“I think it is way better this way,” Kim wrote. “Hopefully no more scorecard DQ’s in the future.”
The Travelers Championship is the final signature event of the 2024 PGA Tour season. Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg and Wyndham Clark will be among the PGA Tour stars competing for chunks of the $20 million purse at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.
I'm sure this rule change definitely won't come up sooner than we all expect.
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