Woody Austin: Stroke or not?
During the third
round of the Tour Championship at East Lake CC, the question of whether Woody
Austin made a stroke at his ball on the 15th putting green came up.
Check out this link off youtube to make your own determination whether Woody Austin made a stroke at his ball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gifW57c6X34
Under the Rules of Golf the definition of a stroke is: the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if the player checks his downswing voluntarily before the club head reaches the ball he has not made a stroke. Tour officials asked Austin if he had intended to make a stroke and he replied that he had not. After reviewing the footage I agree that Austin did not intend to make a stroke. I've seen Austin do a similar procedure when tapping in other putts where he grounds the club swiftly behind the ball and then taps it in.
Check out this link off youtube to make your own determination whether Woody Austin made a stroke at his ball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gifW57c6X34
Under the Rules of Golf the definition of a stroke is: the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if the player checks his downswing voluntarily before the club head reaches the ball he has not made a stroke. Tour officials asked Austin if he had intended to make a stroke and he replied that he had not. After reviewing the footage I agree that Austin did not intend to make a stroke. I've seen Austin do a similar procedure when tapping in other putts where he grounds the club swiftly behind the ball and then taps it in.
What are your
thoughts? Only Austin knows for sure....
