In a way, the third time was the attraction for Beau Hossler – nicely, probably not, however type of.
Hossler had given himself a possibility to win the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday night on the Nation Membership of Jackson (Mississippi). However he hooked his tee shot on the par-4 18th gap behind a tree, was denied two requests without cost reduction, and regardless of lastly receiving such reduction after an analogous drive within the playoff, fell to Kevin Yu, who birdied the primary further gap for his maiden PGA Tour victory.
“The primary constructive is simply getting below the gun and performing,” mentioned Hossler earlier than including, “I’m a little bit dissatisfied with the result. I’m a little bit salty proper now.”
Hossler was seemingly nonetheless annoyed with the occasions of the ultimate gap of regulation. Having simply birdied the par-4 seventeenth gap and with Yu birdieing up forward of him, Hossler wanted a closing birdie for the outright win, par to drive a playoff. However he hooked his drive nicely left and watched his ball settle about 2 ft behind a tree trunk.
Upon assessing his choices – spoiler: he solely had one – Hossler known as a guidelines official over and implied that he warranted TIO reduction from the left grandstand and scoreboard.
The one situation? That shot required an inhuman slice across the tree. And the official was having none of it.
Hossler, clearly miffed, pleaded his case a number of instances:
“Don’t I get reduction if that’s between me and the pin, the grandstand and that scoreboard?”
“What if I instructed you I’m hitting this proper on the pin?”
“I’m hitting this proper on the pin.”
“What if that tree is 20 yards in entrance of me, then may I am going at it?”
“Are you able to clarify the foundations to me?”
The official started to clarify MLR F-23, which states that gamers might “take reduction when the TIO is positioned on the straight line between their ball and the opening,” however that no reduction will likely be given if “enjoying the ball because it lies can be clearly unreasonable due to one thing from which the participant will not be allowed to take free reduction (in Hossler’s case, the tree)” or “when interference exists solely as a result of the participant chooses a membership, sort of stance or swing or course of play that’s clearly unreasonable below the circumstances (in Hossler’s case, the wild slice across the left aspect of the tree).”
Hossler interjected, “I desire a second opinion.”
That official denied his request, too, so Hossler was compelled to punch out proper, establishing a 131-yard up-and-down to maintain his profitable hopes alive.
“There was simply no practical approach that Beau would’ve ever hit a shot in regulation anyplace than the place he simply did there,” mentioned Golf Channel analyst Sam Saunders. “So, he was not entitled to reduction from these grandstands.”
Hossler responded, wedging to 4 ft and rolling within the par save, whereas his enjoying competitor, Keith Mitchell, three-putted from 35 ft on the final to overlook the playoff by a shot.
However Hossler wasn’t carried out with rulings. His drive at No. 18 within the playoff hit the left cart path and bounded towards an analogous spot within the tough to the place he was a couple of minutes earlier. This time, although, Hossler was not behind a tree, and this time, he was entitled to TIO reduction.
Nevertheless, Hossler was not out of the woods. He nonetheless needed to navigate some branches, and his low hook round them splashed within the front-left greenside bunker.
Yu discovered the inexperienced, transformed his quick birdie and ended Hossler’s run.
“Though I didn’t have my finest stuff on the again 9, I grinded actually arduous,” Hossler mentioned. “Hit some actually high quality pictures below the gun, and that’s all you are able to do. Clearly, Kevin performed a gorgeous gap within the playoff. … Undoubtedly stings, however you bought to tip your hat.”
