Top Players Outraged by ‘Ridiculous’ Rule at PGA Championship: ‘Nothing More Frustrating’

The PGA Championship marked the first occasion in three years where the top three players in the world competed together, and the chatter quickly turned to the challenges posed by mud.

Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele found their golf balls caked in mud from the 16th fairway — the toughest hole at Quail Hollow — causing their shots to veer sharply left, landing beyond the green and into the water, resulting in double bogeys.

This scenario was prevalent throughout the day, stemming from a course that had experienced heavy downpours in the days leading up to this second major of the year, compounded by additional rain from late last week.

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On the eve of the first round, the PGA of America communicated that players would have to play the ball as it lay, asserting that the turf was “outstanding and drying hour by hour.”

“We are anticipating an exhilarating opening round,” the announcement proclaimed.

Perhaps not quite this style of excitement.

“It’s infuriating to strike the ball right from the fairway only to find it caked in mud with no idea where it’s headed,” Scheffler lamented, the world’s top-ranked player for the last two years.

“I know this is part of the game, but there’s little more disheartening for a player. You dedicate your life to mastering control over a golf ball, and then due to a decision on the rules, you find yourself with no control at all.”

“But I don’t set the rules,” he admitted. “I just have to navigate the fallout.”

He finished with a 2-under 69, managing to hole two impressive shots from off the green — one a chip-in from deep rough behind the 12th green (after another mud ball from the fairway) and another putt from just off the green at the par-5 15th for eagle.

Then came the double bogey — a shared fate for both players in the featured group — on the 16th.

“I worked hard to regroup today and ensured that a bad break — which cost me a few shots — didn’t get me down,” said Scheffler. “I managed to recover well and put together a reasonable score.”

Schauffele, the world’s No. 3 and defending PGA champion, kicked off with a 1-over 72 and was reclining in the locker room when he noticed a replay on television of his shot on the 16th.

He had aimed beyond the bunker to the right of the green, but now realised he should have directed his shot toward where the crowd was gathered.

“Many players are facing this issue, but it’s just unfortunate to strike decent shots and then be penalised like that. It’s somewhat ridiculous,” he remarked.

McIlroy recorded a 74, opting not to speak to the media. His struggles with mud balls may have been less relevant, as McIlroy found himself off the fairway for most of the round, hitting just four greens.

He also faced a double bogey on the 16th due to adverse conditions. McIlroy hit far left, ending up down a grassy slope with the ball well above his shoes. As he swung, his left foot slipped, and he was fortunate to make contact, merely advancing it a further 30 yards, still in rough territory.

The world’s top three all posted a score of 6 on that hole.

“I’ve kept the streak alive with a double on that hole, and I reckon that’s the first and last time I do that in my career — unless we encounter some extreme weather,” joked Scheffler.

This notion gave him a chuckle, but little else could, especially the decision to play the ball down. The US Open always mandates players to lift, clean, and place their golf balls in the fairways. The PGA Championship had allowed it once during a sodden week at Baltusrol in 2016.

Both Scheffler and Schauffele contended that Quail Hollow was in good enough condition that removing mud from golf balls wouldn’t confer a better lie than what they would have in dry conditions.

Scheffler noted that American courses — unlike links courses like those at the British Open — are frequently overseeded and well-watered, making them prone to collecting mud, particularly when the sun emerges after a deluge.

“I understand the sentiment of golf purists who say, ‘Oh, play it as it lies.’ But they might not grasp what it’s truly like to spend your whole life mastering how to hit a golf ball and control it, only to have a rules decision strip that away by chance,” Scheffler expressed.

“In golf, there’s enough randomness throughout a 72-hole tournament; I don’t believe the narrative should hinge on whether the ball is played up or down,” he asserted. “When I evaluate golf tournaments, I seek the most genuine and equitable test of the game, and I feel the ball should have been lifted today.”

Schauffele shared his displeasure at the idea of hitting from the fairway only to face a 50-50 gamble regarding the quality of his shot due to mud. Towards the end of his round, he was relieved to find mud on top of his ball rather than on the side. At least it would only impact the distance, not the trajectory.

Moreover, there was another facet to these muddy balls. Schauffele glanced again at the screen and saw Ryan Gerard sitting at 7-under through 16 holes, before he bogeyed the last two for a 66.

“Yes, it was frustrating, but everyone faced the same issue,” Schauffele acknowledged. “There’s a guy shooting 7-under right now. So perhaps I’m just being overly dramatic.”