John Daly's 2008 season starts a lot like his 2007 ended: by missing the cut. In his first tournament of the year, the Sony Open, Daly finished Friday's round on the even-par cut line.
Historically, when a golfer finishes on the number he typically gets to play on the weekend. Not this year; in November, the PGA Tour Policy Board tweaked the rules. Players were notified, but apparently, not everybody knew the new rules going into the season. The Honolulu Advertiser explains:
It says that although the top 70 finishers - and ties - make the overall cut, should that number include more than 78 professionals, the field will be sliced to the nearest figure to 70 (in the case of Sony 69), plus amateurs.The rules change was intended to "reduce weekend field, speed up play and allow more rhythm for championship play." All noble endeavors, by the way. Whatever, that didn't make Daly feel any better about his fate:
"I don't understand the rule. I think it's crazy," Daly fumed to The Golf Channel after it was explained to him yesterday. "It's a stupid rule, I'm sorry."No worries, though: Butch Harmon is on the job. Oh, and there's a silver lining: Daly will still get a check ($10,000!) and FedEx Cup points. Awesome.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-12-2008 @ 6:06PM
Ken said...
It is a stuid rule and probably wont make that much difference in the pace of play. Golf is a sport of traditions and should go back to how it was 10 strokes and top 70 plus ties.
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1-12-2008 @ 6:33PM
ron said...
Daly is correct. It's a STUPID rule !!!!!!!!!!!!
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1-13-2008 @ 8:45PM
Ted said...
So let me get this new rule straight - If a tournament reaches 78 or more players on a weekend, the field is trimmed to the closet number to 70. Those that do not make the cut are then given last place money and Fed-Ex cup points. Now those players are currently tied for 45th place - so do they now get additional money and Fed-Ex points? Ridiculous! They should have thought this one through...
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1-14-2008 @ 10:26AM
david zacher said...
While I think its a stupid rule. In Dalys case if you ever see his weekend scores when he is on the cut line and out of contention he usually rushes around the course and plays like its a chore. However for guys like Two Glove Gainey from the Big Break it was his first PGA event I feel bad cause he like others would be grinding for as many dollars he can.
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1-14-2008 @ 12:17PM
kim staley said...
not only is it a stupid rule, it is a dumb rule
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1-14-2008 @ 2:14PM
Rusty Crossland said...
It appears to me the Demorcrats are starting to run the PGA too!
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1-14-2008 @ 2:35PM
peter carr said...
John Daly is absolutely right!! The rule actually borders on ignorance?!! What if one of those guys that made the cut but didn't get a chance to play the weekend were to go out & shoot a pair of 65's?!!? They would have finished 3rd!!(BIG $$$) The PGA is taking potential $$$ out of the players' pockets??!!! Big names should boycott until rule is changed back?!!!
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1-15-2008 @ 12:12PM
Mike T. said...
Why don't we just take this ridiculous rule a step further and take away 1 PGA Tour win from Faxon, Couch, and Olazabel since they made cuts on the number and went on to win tournaments! Funny how this rule was passed to no heated debate and is now on the front page after 1 full-field tournament, eh?
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1-16-2008 @ 3:35PM
Eduardo J Rodriguez said...
Again TV wins over tradition.
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1-17-2008 @ 7:14AM
Jim Rose said...
Replace the PGA Tour Policy Board. and recind the stupid rule. Pretty soon it'll be just whoever can draw a TV audience.
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1-17-2008 @ 8:14AM
Tom said...
Where can I put down a bet that if Tiger is on the cut number that the rule will be reviewed and immediately changed. Some are more equal than others. Tiger would grind over the weekend to still get a win.
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