A pro golfer in the PGA Tour is only allowed to let the ball rest on the edge of the cup for a maximum of 10 seconds. After that, they must use an additional stroke to knock the ball into the cup.
The player and their partner can decide on a “reasonable time” before the 10-second clock starts.
On Saturday, Lee Hodges and Jordan Spieth were paired together at the PGA Championship. This rule was put to the test when a wild par putt on the 17th hole was made.
Hodges nailed his line perfectly on his putt, only to have the ball sit on the lip. And sit. And sit. And sit. The total time is 35 seconds. It was only after that, and only then did it give in to gravity and fall into a cup.
Waiting…waiting…waiting…still waiting…waiting…yeah, still….waiting…
(ESPN) pic.twitter.com/Vk91rjop0d
Golf on CBS 20 May 2023
Hodges’s waiting was penalized after consideration.
The PGA Championship Rules Committee released the following statement.
Hodges waited for more than 10 second after putting his ball into the hole. After the 10-second time limit, the ball fell into the hole. Hodges was penalized with a stroke under Rule 13.3a and the ball fell into the hole.
