Tianlang Guan, a 14-year-old Chinese golfer and youngest competitor to ever play in the Masters, was assessed a one-stroke penalty for slow play in yesterday’s second round. Here’s a glance at the Masters’ rules, based on the USGA and R&A’s Rules of Golf:
PACE OF PLAY POLICY
Rule 6-7 states, in part: “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may establish.”
TIMING
When the Committee determines that a group or an individual is out of position and will be timed, the players in that group or the specific individual will be informed by a Rules Rover of such timing.
Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player’s stroke will begin when it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction. Time spent determining yardage will count as time taken for the next stroke.
A player is permitted 40 seconds to play a stroke. This 40 second time limit includes the first to play from the teeing ground, from the fairway and from around and on the putting green. Any player being timed, who exceeds the allowed time to play a stroke, will be informed by a Rules Rover of that breach as soon as practicable.
PACE OF PLAY PENALTIES
* One timing exceeding the allotted time to play a stroke: no penalty (warning)
* A second timing exceeding the allotted time to play a stroke: 1 stroke penalty
* A third timing exceeding the allotted time to play a stroke: additional 2 stroke penalty
* A fourth timing exceeding the allotted time to play a stroke: disqualification