LONDON: Jon Rahm eased to a six-shot victory in the Irish Open yesterday, shattering the course and tournament record, but his win was overshadowed by a ball-marking controversy that shone an uncomfortable spotlight on golf’s complicated rule book.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who hit two eagles and five birdies in a final-round 65 to finish on 24 under par, was at his scintillating best when the incident at the sixth hole threatened to leave him with a two-shot penalty. As he reached the green, Rahm placed his marker to the side of his ball to allow his playing partner Daniel Im to putt from further back.
However, on returning to his marker, Rahm replaced his ball to the front, putting him apparently in violation of the rules.
TV cameras picked up the incident and Irish media said organisers received emails from viewers alerting them to the possible transgression. However, rules official Andy McPhee said that no penalty was imposed because Rahm “made a reasonable judgment” in replacing his ball.
Key to that decision may have been the fact that Rahm had moved his mark a putter’s length to the side to get out of Im’s line, allowing for differing interpretations of the rules.
“To my eyes, I put the ball back exactly where it was,” Rahm said.