Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 2 March 2017

Golf

Continued from Page 17

“I think what you’ll see is
that part of this process is to
evaluate all the outcomes
and identify outcomes that
are more reasonable and
common-sense based.”
Rory McIlroy has been in-
formed of the changes
and liked what he heard.
“I think golf’s emphasis on
the rules can sometimes
turn people away from it,”
McIlroy said. “To modern-
ize and make it simple is
a good thing. With what’s
happened in the last cou-
ple of years, with some rul-
ings and high-profile things
that have happened at
crucial stages in tourna-
ments, people who look at
that and might want to get
into the game say: ‘You
know what? It’s too com-
plicated.’
“Making them more mod-
ern to move with the times Rickie Fowler prepares to tee off on the 18th tee during the final round of the Honda Classic golf tournament, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017,
is good.” in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Fowler won the tournament. Associated Press
Depending on the six-
month public comment to playing the game,’” Pa- above the ground or grass. use it. and remain in tune with the
period, the proposal would gel said. “It’s not that cad- Currently, players have — Players who touched the way the modern game is
be finalized in 2018 and dies can no longer help the to stand upright and hold line of their putts or the put- played,” said David Rick-
become effective in 2019. player. But when a player the ball at shoulder height ting green in pointing out man, executive director of
One of the proposed rules goes to set up to the ball, and arm’s length from their a target faced a two-shot governance for the R&A.
would penalize caddies that challenge is the play- bodies. penalty. The modern rule “But we have been careful
who stand behind their er’s.” Among other proposed has no penalty, provided not to change the game’s
players until right before Another significant propos- rules: they are not improving the longstanding principles
the shot, to help them with al, which got McIlroy’s at- — Instead of only being al- condition of the putt. and character.”
alignment. That is most tention, was how to drop. lowed to repair pitch marks Several proposed rules were While the Rules of Golf
prominent on the LPGA The goal was to get the ball or old hole plugs on the geared toward improving would only be 24 rules,
Tour. If the modern rules back in play quickly. Mod- greens, players now can fix the pace of play, such as that’s not to suggest 10
are adopted, caddies ern rules would more easily just about anything, includ- encouraging players to hit rules were simply eliminat-
would have to move as identify where to drop, and ing spike marks and heel their shot when ready. Play- ed. That indicates how the
soon as their players take players would only have prints. ers would have only three book was taken apart and
their stances. to hold the ball above the — Players were disqualified minutes to search for a lost put back together.
“This is one we stepped ground without it touch- if they used a club that was ball instead of five minutes. “Probably a bit more than
back and said, ‘Aligning ing anything. The recom- damaged in anger. Under “It is important that the 10 went away,” Pagel
yourself is just fundamental mendation is at least 1 inch the proposal, they can still Rules continue to evolve said.q

McIlroy says a ‘possibility’ to see

Woods at the Masters

DOUG FERGUSON second round of the Dubai and it’s unfortunate be-
AP Golf Writer Desert Classic on Feb. 3 with cause it just won’t allow
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Rory back spasms and withdrew him to do what he wants
McIlroy says Tiger Woods from his next two tourna- to do,” McIlroy said. “It’s
was in a good place men- ments. His agent said it was tough, but I know that he’s
tally when they had lunch not being viewed as an ex- working hard to try and
last week and that the tended break. Woods has get back. Again, with your
next few weeks would go not said anything about the body and with injuries, it just
a long way in determining Arnold Palmer Invitational takes time. However long
whether the four-time Mas- in two weeks or the Masters it is that it takes him to be
ters champion shows up at on April 6-9. healthy enough to get out
Augusta National to play. McIlroy doesn’t know, ei- here and play, even if he In this Feb. 2, 2017, file photo, Tiger Woods reacts on the 11th
“It’s a possibility, for sure,” ther. plays eight to 10 times a hole during the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic golf tour-
McIlroy said Tuesday. “He struggled with his body year, that’s a bonus for all nament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press
Woods withdrew from the over the past couple years of us.”q