PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Rule 10.2b(4) put the fear of God in caddies over the last two weeks.
Haotong Li’s two-shot penalty at the Dubai Desert Classic and Denny McCarthy’s two-shot penalty at the Waste Management Phoenix Open for violations of the new rule forbidding caddies from aligning players created much angst after it appeared both violations were unintentional.
McCarthy’s penalty was rescinded, and the USGA and R&A basically suspended the new rule before issuing clarifications on Wednesday. Still, apprehension remains.
Graeme McDowell and his long-time caddie, Ken Comboy, spent a lot of time last week trying to understand the mistakes that can unintentionally lead to violations.