The 2023 Ryder Cup is the first to not implement a one-ball rule, with officials forced to make a clarification during the opening round of the competition today
Ryder Cup officials found themselves having to explain their regulations during the opening day of the tournament at Bethpage Black.
The competition got underway with Rory McIlroy enduring a brutal three-word jeer from the crowd before he’d even taken his first swing. His playing partner Shane Lowry didn’t hide his displeasure at the American fans’ behaviour in response to their vocal support.
On the course itself, tournament officials issued a memo detailing a “Preferred Lies Update.”
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The notice was sent out at 9:30am local time, over two hours after the first group had begun their round, explaining that soggy conditions from earlier in the week meant players could take free relief to move their ball in certain situations.
The statement explained: “When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less (does not include the collar cut), the player may take free relief ONCE by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area.
“In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.
“The player has only chosen the spot on which to place the ball once the ball has been set down, and the player has let the ball go with the intent for that ball to be in play. Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Local Rule: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a,” reports the Mirror US.
This year’s Ryder Cup isn’t enforcing a one-ball rule, a crucial decision in foursomes where golfers who typically use different equipment are partnered together.
Team USA skipper for the 2023 Ryder Cup, Zach Johnson, tackled this matter two years ago, stating: “If we are playing together, I’m probably going to tee off with your golf ball more times than not so that we can have more control with your iron play or your wedge play or whatever it may be with your own golf ball.
“That’s kind of the unwritten rule. These guys know what they are doing. I don’t need to coach them on how to go about doing that.”
This comes as Team Europe established a 3-1 lead during Friday’s opening foursomes session. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton delivered a 4and3 victory over Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, whilst Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick grabbed another point for Europe with a 5and3 triumph over Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
McIlroy and Lowry then extended Europe’s advantage to 3-0 with a 5and4 victory over Collin Morikawa and Harris English, before USA clawed one back with a 2Up triumph over Bob MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland.
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