"Kenny has got a lie – it's a down-grain lie but there is a big clump of down-grain grass behind it"
Lawrence Donegan follows up with a more extensive piece sharing a variety of opinions on the Kenny Perry-FBR-Open-controversy first noted earlier this week.
"When I first heard stories about the video I thought, 'I hope Kenny is not being maligned.' And then when I saw it, I was shocked," says Brandel Chamblee, a former PGA Tour player and now a well-respected analyst with the Golf Channel. "What you can say in his defence is that there is no way he was trying to get away with something on a grand scale. The camera was right there and he knew there were millions of people watching on TV. But I was also shocked that no one who was watching at home called in, or that no one who was doing the television coverage mentioned anything about it on air."
It should be noted that the Super Bowl had begun, so the audience at that point was tiny.
John Huggan says this about the incident.
Even the man beaten in the play-off, Charley Hoffman, wanted nothing to do with pointing out the obvious. "I have no problem with that," he gasped. "We all do it."
If what Hoffman claims is true, not only does golf at the highest level have a serious problem, but some education in the area of what does and does not constitute "improving one's lie" is badly needed.
This zoomed in version of the original is below and also on YouTube in a slightly wider version. Note David Feherty's description of the lie as Perry places his club behind the ball.
Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 09:06 PM
Reader Comments (25)
On another note, it was interesting to read in the article that for the first time, the "young pro" in one of the oldest and most widely-told anecdotes about shotmaking was identified as Ben Crenshaw. Christy O'Connor is usually the protagonist in the story, but the "young pro" has previously been anonymous in all the incarnations I've read. It does give the story an added storyline - young American gun meets old Irish sage, young American obviousy learns a thing or two and becomes Masters champion and links golf advocate - but the bs-detector in me went off. I wonder, did the event really occur, or is Dubya's buddy simply trying to secure a place in golfing lore by spreading a version with himself in it?
Why is this story coming out now? Nothing can be done. Seems like odd timing. Not that it makes the situation any less disturbing.
someguy: What's your point?
Um, that Donegan's a bigot? Isn't it obvious?
Anyway, back to Perry. I've never liked him and now I know that his Augusta meltdown was old fashioned karma. The golf gods always have the last laugh.
"Fortunately for Perry, and for golf, Paramor was happy to make the case publicly for the player. "The fact is the player is allowed to put his club behind the ball, otherwise he would never be allowed to address his ball in any circumstance. As soon as any player puts his club on the grass behind the ball, then the grass will be flattened," he says. "The issue is, is there excessive pressing down with the club?" In other words, was there intent? "Looking at this, I don't think Kenny Perry did use excessive pressure when he put his club behind the ball. It does look bad, it does look like the lie was improved but, as long as there was no intent to do so, and I don't think there was, then it is not a penalty.""
How in the world can anyone look at that video and not come away convinced that Perry's sole intent in tapping on that grass was to move it out of the way of the ball? Paramor's explanation would fly with me if Perry was addressing the ball (at the time he soled the club) in an effort to line up his shot. But as he was pressing the grass down prior to taking a practice swing or addressing the ball, I find Paramor's explanation somewhat questionable.
I think there is a simple reason that everyone's first reaction is "the guy has done something bad" - he's improving his lie, right?
What I'm most curious about is the comment from Jason who wrote "I've never liked him." Really? Kenny Perry somehow seemed unlikeable to you? Really?
as for discussing the rulings of officials after the fact, i'd guess a significant percentage of all sports conversations involve the correctness, vel non, of such calls. i see no reason why golf should be any different.
finally, these sorts of discussions are usually pretty edifying for me with respect to my own conduct on the golf course. following kenny's and the rules officials instructive example here, henceforth, i shall spend a good few seconds tamping down any inconvenient grass before addressing my ball in the rough. (this last part is intended facetiously).
And Scotty, what do you mean? Are you sarcastic or sincere about questioning if someone doesn't like Perry? I personally did certainly not root for him at Augusta after his boneheaded and insensitive comments at last year's Tour Championship.
Tim 'Timmy' Robinson
However he should have done it away from the ball therefore it looks bad.
If Kenny can live with himself, i can too. the ball was sitting up. only he knows whether he improved his lie. i dont think he did.
but the point is, unlike cycling or baseball, where we get to hear the guy didn't really win 6 months after the event closes, in golf its over when they give out the trophy. i like it that way. its only a game.