"Score one, then, for the media, which so many athletes slam, and often correctly, for being a royal pain in the neck."

That's Dave George describing Jerry Kelly's use of Palm Beach Post photographer Allen Eyestone's golf ball image yesterday. Kelly's pellet was stuck in a palm tree and he used the image to identify his ball. Thanks to reader Tim for the links.

Eyestone was on the scene at No. 6 when marshals suggested that he take a digital photograph of the ball with his 400-millimeter telephoto lens. PGA Tour rules officials then took turns staring at a blowup of the photo on the camera's LCD display screen.

The verdict wasn't immediate or necessarily even unanimous, but Kelly eventually was granted an unplayable lie based on the presence of a thin, green identifying line that he marks on each ball. Right there, 68 yards from the green, he took a penalty drop and proceeded to salvage a bogey-5 by hitting a wedge shot to 13 feet and holing the putt.

George's story includes Eyestone's images. By the way, how about that name for a photographer!

Stephanie Wei was on scene and described how the decision came down after official Dillard Pruitt called in Slugger White for a second opinion.

White broke out his glasses to examine the camera screen. “I can’t see it,” he said. Then he pulled out a magnifying glass to get an even closer look.

For five minutes, it seemed like White was going to rule against Kelly and call it a lost ball, which would cost him a penalty shot and he’d have to return to where he hit the ball, 220 yards out. Fans continued to support Kelly and shouted at officials to rule in Kelly’s favor. White snapped at them to shut up. Meanwhile, Kelly politely told the crowd to let the officials do their job.
“It is visible. It is green and a line,” Kelly repeated.

White still wasn’t convinced, but turned back to Pruitt to ask for his opinion. Like a teenager caving to peer pressure, he finally said almost reluctantly, “Yes, I can see it.”