AUGUSTA – On Saturday morning, Tiger Woods was assessed a two-stroke penalty for a rules violation for an improper drop during the second round of the Masters on Friday at Augusta National Golf Club.
Woods’ score dropped from 3 under par and a tie for seventh place to 1 under, tied for 20th when the third round started Saturday.
At issue was Woods' drop at the 15th hole after his third shot had hit off the flag stick and bounded into a pond. He took a drop for what was now his fifth shot, but from farther back than where he played his third shot. His fifth shot landed less than 3 feet from the cup and he made a bogey.
Here's what Woods said about it Friday:
"I went down to the drop area, that wasn't going to be a good spot, because obviously it's into the grain and it was a little bit wet," he said.
"So it was muddy and not a good spot to drop. So i went back to where i had played it from, but I went two yards further back and I tried to take two yards off the shot of what I felt I hit. That should land me short of the flag and not have to either hit the flag or skip over the back. ... It worked out perfectly."
He was not disqualified. Woods’ tee time Saturday remained at 1:45 p.m.
Here is a statement from Fred Ridley, chairman of the Masters competition committees.
“Yesterday afternoon, the Rules Committee was made aware of a possible Rules violation that involved a drop by Tiger Woods on the 15th hole.
“In preparation for his fifth shot, the player dropped his ball in close proximity to where he had played his third shot in apparent conformance with Rule 26. After being prompted by a television viewer, the Rules Committee reviewed a video of the shot while he was playing the 18th hole. At that moment and based on that evidence, the Committee determined he had complied with the Rules.
“After he signed his scorecard, and in a television interview subsequent to the round, the player stated that he played further from the point than where he had played his third shot. Such action would constitute playing from the wrong place.
“The subsequent information provided by the player’s interview after he had completed play warranted further review and discussion with him this morning. After meeting with the player, it was determined that he had violated Rule 26, and he was assessed a two-stroke penalty. The penalty of disqualification was waived by the Committee under Rule 33 as the Committee had previously reviewed the information and made its initial determination prior to the finish of the player’s round."