PGA Championship apologizes after somehow giving players a wrong hole location

Golf TrackMan Compilation - 2016 PGA Championship Rd 1

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

We"ve seen many high-profile screw-ups by the different governing bodies, leagues and institutions that lead golf this year. But this is a new one. Apparently the PGA either forgot to put the hole in the right spot, or just put it in a totally different spot than it had originally told players. The PGA would eventually catch the mistake, but only after the first group of the day played the 10th hole (their opening hole) operating with a pin sheet that had the old information on it. Old information that told them the hole was on the opposite side of the green. Really.

The bad info also may lead to one player, Colt Knost, missing the cut by a shot.

Knost was in that first group and had every right to be ticked off Friday morning when he took tournament organizers to task on Twitter after he set out for his second round of the PGA Championship with the wrong pin sheet.

At the time, we didn"t have the full background of the screw-up and know why Knost was upset. But this is an inexcusable screw-up. The PGA of America recognized its mistake and later apologized for the error.

The following official statement was issued:

"The second round hole location sheet provided to Group 14 the first group of the day to play from Tee #10 listed the hole location as being on the left side of the green (20 paces from the front of the green and four paces from the left edge of the green).

"In error, the hole was actually cut and positioned on the right side of the green (19 paces from the front of the green and five paces from the right edge of the green). The PGA of America Rules Committee did not notice the hole had been cut in the incorrect location until after each member of Group 14 had hit his second shot to the green.

"The hole location played by Group 14 was provided a revised hole location sheet to all subsequent groups, meaning all groups today are playing this same hole location. PGA Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh met with the players in Group 14 (Colt Knost, Joe Summerhays and Yuta Ikeda) after they signed their cards to offer an explanation, express his disappointment and apologize to them."

Knost made a bogey-5 on the hole and finished his round on the projected cut line at 2-over. He was not pleased.

Knosts earlier tweet, of course, referred to the way the USGA screwed up a penalty call on Dustin Johnson in the final round of the U.S. Open.

Making matters worse: the bogey from that hole could be the difference between Knost missing the cut. He"s at 2-over and the cut line is jumping all around that number. It just jumped to 1-over, meaning Knost would go home if things hold.

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Source: http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2016/7/29/12326220/pga-championship-pin-sheet-colt-knost-apology

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PGA Championship: Time still on Sergio Garcia"s side for major

2016 PGA Championship preview show

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. Henrik Stenson took his silver claret jug and headed straight for Switzerland to play in a charity event organized by Sergio Garcia. It turned out to be the perfect occasion to deliver an important message to the host.

Stenson was 40 when he won the British Open at Royal Troon. He had paid his dues with a trio of close calls in the majors. It was his time.

Garcia has paid even more.

It started when he was a 19-year-old trying to chase down Tiger Woods at Medinah. He played in the final group with Woods at Bethpage Black and Royal Liverpool. He twice was beaten in the final holes by Padraig Harrington at Carnoustie and Oakland Hills.

Henrik, when I saw him Monday at my event in Switzerland, he said: You know, Im 40, youre 36. You still have probably 16 more before you get there, Garcia said Wednesday on the eve of the PGA Championship. So at the end of the day, if you stay healthy, you still can give yourself a lot of chances here and there. Thats my goal, to keep giving myself chances and hopefully take as many as possible in the coming years.

Stensons victory has shifted the focus to Garcia, perhaps more than any other player in the final major of the year, particularly in a season of first-time major champions Danny Willet at the Masters, Dustin Johnson at the U.S. Open and Stenson.

It just shows that youve got to keep on trying, Stenson said. It was nice to see Dustin win at the U.S. Open. Hes had some close calls and some heartbreaking calls in the last four years, five years. Youve got to keep putting yourself in position. And the more times you do that, thats what gives you chances for it to happen.

Lee Westwood is another player on the dubious list of best to have never won a major. The 43-year-old Englishman had a chance at the U.S. Open, British Open and Masters in successive years and he is among two players Luke Donald is the other to reach No. 1 in the world without ever having won a major. Rickie Fowler at No. 7 in the world and Garcia (No. 10) are the only players in the top 10 who have not won a major.

Garcia is different, because he has been at a high level for so long.

Just not high enough.

The Spaniard is no longer as temperamental, at times petulant, as he was earlier in his career when he accomplished so much at early age that he expected so much more. He complained about the breaks Woods got from the weather in the 2002 U.S. Open. His worst moment was in the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie, when he suggested he was playing more than the field because he couldnt catch a break.

He has thrown clubs. He has kicked shoes.

Now, it almost seems as though Garcia is resigned that his career could end without a major, even though he has such a long road ahead of him. Yes, he is surprised to have not won a major as he approaches two decades playing them.

He said it would have bothered him five or 10 years ago, but no longer.

I understand how difficult it is to win every week, he said. It doesnt matter if its a major. It doesnt matter where it is. It doesnt matter if its in the U.S., in Asia, in Europe, in Africa. It is tough to win. So thats great for the game of golf, and the only thing I can do is just keep giving myself chances and just wait for it.

Hopefully, it will happen, he said. If it doesnt happen, its not going to change my life. Im not going to go in a cave and stay there until I die.

Golf goes in cycle, and maybe this one favors Garcia.

In only three years dating to 1960 have the four Grand Slam events been won by players who previously didnt have a major, most recently in 2011 and 2003. The last four major champions dating to Jason Day last year at the PGA Championship had never won a major.

I would love to make it five in a row, Garcia said.

Also, all but one of the last 12 winners of the PGA Championship had won earlier in the year. Garcia won the AT&T Byron Nelson.

The tiniest smile appeared on Garcias face when he was introduced Wednesday as playing in his 18th PGA Championship. Was it really that long ago when he closed his eyes and hit that shot out of the tree in 1999 at Medinah to finish one shot behind Woods?

Three first-time major winners this year give him hope, especially Stenson, a close friend.

Hes been giving himself a lot of chances, and he finally waited for that day where everything clicked and everything was happening, Garcia said. So I think what that shows me is that never give up. Keep giving myself chances and keep waiting for that day when things really happen my way.

And then hopefully, he added, Ill be able to raise that trophy.

Source: http://www.gazettenet.com/PGA-Championship-time-still-on-Sergio-Garcia-s-side-3703626

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