GREENSBORO, N.C. – Brendan Steele received a two-shot penalty for use of an alignment stick during the second round of the Wyndham Championship.
Steele was off to a rough start, having played his first three holes in 4 over, and after hitting his approach to No. 13 (his fourth hole of the day) he asked his caddie to check his alignment. His caddie then put down an alignment stick, which many players use in practice but which is prohibited during competition.
“I thought maybe that would be a problem,” Steele said.
Under Rule 4-3, players are prohibited from using “any type of golf training or swing aid (such as an alignment rod or weighted head cover or ‘donut’) or a non-conforming club to make a practice swing or in any other way that creates a potential advantage by helping the player in preparing for or making a stroke (such as help with swing plane, grip, alignment, ball position or posture).