"Oh, Two-Stroke Penalty"... Ok Tae-hoon's Momentary Lapse Costs Historic 33-Year Record

Winter makes it difficult to get out on the course. Cold winds blow through driving ranges too. Naturally, time spent indoors increases. This winter season offers a good opportunity to catch up on things we've put off—one of them being studying golf rules. Through various cases from last year's KPGA Tour and KLPGA Tour, we examine rules that are often confused. *Editor's Note*

Last year, Ok Tae-hoon dominated the KPGA Tour. He won the Grand Prize (MVP), money title, and scoring average award. However, one regret remains. He had a chance to become the first player since Choi Sang-ho in 1992 to win four KPGA Tour titles in a single season, but a rules violation held him back.

At the Lexus Masters second round, 17th hole (par 4), held at Yeoju Ferum Club (par 72) in Gyeonggi Province in October, Ok's third shot came to rest on a sprinkler in front of the green. It was a situation where he could take relief without penalty. After establishing the nearest point of complete relief, he simply needed to drop the ball within one club-length of that point (Rule 16.1).

However, Ok momentarily confused the rules and "placed" the ball instead of dropping it before hitting his fourth shot. Golf Rules (14.3b) stipulate that when a ball should be dropped but is placed and then played, a general penalty (two strokes) applies. This is because specifying the ball's position effectively constitutes playing from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a). Ok made a triple bogey on this hole.

On the final day, Ok missed the playoff among Kim Jae-ho, Hwang Jung-gon, Choi Jin-ho, and Lee Yu-seok by exactly two strokes—the same as the penalty. It's a futile hypothetical, but without those two penalty strokes, the outcome might have been different.

Relief area drops are the most frequently occurring situation during a round, so it's essential to understand them clearly. When dropping, you may use the original ball or substitute another ball.

The ball must be dropped using the correct method. Three requirements must be met. First, the player must drop the ball personally. A caddie or anyone else cannot do it. Second, the ball must be dropped straight down from knee height. This means you cannot throw, roll, or spin the ball. Additionally, the ball must not touch the player or equipment while falling. However, if the ball accidentally strikes a person, equipment, or outside influence after hitting the ground but before coming to rest, there is no penalty for anyone. Third, the ball must be dropped in the relief area (or on the line). The player may stand inside or outside the relief area.

If a ball is dropped using an incorrect method, it must be re-dropped using the correct method. There is no limit to the number of attempts until it is dropped correctly. If a ball dropped incorrectly is played without re-dropping, the penalty depends on where the ball lies. If the ball was within the relief area, the player receives a one-stroke penalty because it was not playing from a wrong place. However, if the ball was outside the relief area, the player receives a general penalty (two strokes).