During last week’s DGC Open, 10-time Asian Tour winner Scott Hend called himself on a “muppet move” that led to his ‘self-imposed’ disqualification.
The 49-year-old, whose wins include three co-sanctioned European Tour events, is a regular poster on social media and was not shy when admitting on Twitter that he’d made a “rookie error.”
Poised to miss the cut at the Delhi Golf Club, Hend found himself in a bunker off the 18th tee, played to a position that tracking likes to call, ‘unknown,’ and dropped the ball within a club length of the original place – outside the sand.
As Hend explained:
“I hit a ball out of a bunker on the 18th, ball was lost, I then went back dropped a ball within a club length of the original place.”
Having wondered if he had dropped in an incorrect position, the former world number 59 realised he had done so, and called the ruling.
For those wondering why I was DQ’d today in India….. Well, I hit a ball out of a bunker on the 18th, ball was lost, I then went back dropped a ball within a club length of the original place. Walking down the fairway after play’n the shot I wondered if I dropped in a
— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) March 17, 2023
Dropping within 1 club length doesn’t mean I could drop on the grass outside the bunker…. I had to drop back in the bunker. Muppet move on my behalf. Rookie error for sure. Energy level at -5 at that stage. Onwards and upwards. #JustSayn #GolfLife #ItsOnMe
— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) March 17, 2023
The Aussie then conceded that, “DGC has got me again,” referring to his previous nine outings at the DGC.
Since his debut effort of 19th in 2008, Hend has a best of 28th alongside two previous missed weekends.
Naturally, there was a lot of praise for the decision even if it made no difference to the eventual result, and Hend was quite clear why he had made the move.
Well Chris…. I had finished out the hole… YET… Unlike many, I like to leave the Course with a clear conscience, I thought I had broken a rule…. So that being the case irrespective of MISSING the CUT or not. I called the Referee and DQ’d Myself. I feel at ease?????
— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) March 17, 2023
It wasn’t a great week for the popular golfer, as one fan put it:
Great week. First you get the shits, then a DQ. Hope the clubs and luggage make it back home…
— Greg Marthaler (@GregMarthaler2) March 18, 2023
