Players Contender Spaun Uses Smart Rules Knowledge for Crucial Birdie Drop
During the final round of The Players Championship, J.J. Spaun used a clever application of golf rules to transform a challenging situation into a birdie opportunity at the 9th hole.
After hitting his approach shot into deep rough near the 9th green, Spaun discovered his ball was positioned near a sprinkler head. The rules allowed him to take free relief due to this man-made obstruction, permitting a drop within one club length, no nearer to the hole.
Interestingly, another sprinkler head was located within the dropping area of his first relief. This enabled Spaun to take a second drop, as the rules allow relief from man-made obstructions. After his second drop, his ball came to rest on the edge of the fairway, significantly improving his position.
NBC Sports' Jim "Bones" Mackay explained: "J.J. got up there and his ball was in a horrible lie. He was standing on a sprinkler but still nowhere near the fairway, so he took relief. Within that club length was another sprinkler, so he intentionally dropped it in the sprinkler, got a second club length away from that, and got himself into the fairway."
The sequence of drops, while within the rules, sparked discussion among fans as it dramatically improved Spaun's position. What could have been a challenging par save became a routine birdie opportunity, which he converted to tie leader Rory McIlroy as play was suspended due to rain.
The situation highlighted how thorough knowledge of golf rules can sometimes lead to unexpected advantages, even when playing strictly within the letter of the law.