Paramor Zaps Guan With Masters Slow Play Penalty
/Sam Weinman explains what happened when noted slow play penalizer and European Tour official John Paramor hit Tianlang Guan with a 1-shot slow play penalty during Masters second round play.
Ben Crenshaw defended his 14-year-old playing partner.
"This isn't going to wind up pretty, I don't think," Crenshaw said. "I'm sick. I'm sick for him. He's 14 years old. We're playing -- when you get the wind blowing out here, believe me, you're going to change your mind a lot...I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry this happened."
Guan is the first player to be penalized for slow play at a major since the 2010 PGA. There are no records of a slow-play penalty ever assessed at the Masters.
In an interview with ESPN, Guan said, "I respect the decision. This is what they can do."
The competition committee issues this statement:
Tianlang Guan was assessed a one-shot penalty for violation of Rule 6-7 of the Rules of Golf and the Tournament’s Pace of Play Policy. His group, which included Ben Crenshaw and Matteo Manassero, was deemed out of position on No. 10. Guan began being timed on Hole 12 and received his first warning on Hole 13 after his second shot. In keeping with the applicable rules, he was penalized following his 2nd shot on the 17th hole when he again exceeded the 40 second time limit by a considerable margin.
Fred Ridley
Competition Committees Chairman
From Paul Newberry's AP account of the incident and Guan's reaction:
Augusta National spokesman Steve Ethun said there were no records of the penalty ever being assessed during the Masters.
"I know the rules pretty good," Guan said. "But I think my routine was pretty good, too. Just the wind changed. The weather, it was not a good day."
**This unbylined Sky story quotes playing partner Mateo Manassero, characterized as sympathetic by the writer though he doesn't sound too sorry after having to watch Guan's tepid pace.
Manassero also felt sorry for Guan although he admitted he had been slow, adding: "I think it's the biggest thing he needs to be careful about, because I think he's ready.
"When the caddie pulls the club for him, I think he's ready. But most of the times that he takes a little too long he just asks questions that I think he knows, but just to be sure, just to be clear in his mind.
"We all feel sorry, but this is the way professional golf goes. This will end up being a great experience for him
**Celebrities weighing in, with Andy Roddick and Lil Wayne both denouncing the penalty. Thought you should know.
Among golfers, noted fast play advocate Joe Ogilvie was "stupefied" by the penalty and explained the point in the round (17th), winds and age should have been considered.
