Rory Playing in the Sand

For both of you who might have missed it, on August 8, Rory McIlroy tried to move a loose impediment in a fairway bunker.  When he started to touch it, he realized it might not be a stone as he thought, but could be a clump of sand instead.  He admitted to touching the clump, but it didn't move and he did nothing to improve his lie in the bunker.  The referee he called over called for clarification and after some discussion the committee decided that Rory had earned the General Penalty -- two strokes.

Rule 12.2a permits removing loose impediments an movable obstructions in a bunker.  It further explains that "...any reasonable touching or movement of the sand in the bunker while doing so" is permitted.

Rule 12.2a(1) describes when touching sand will result in a penalty. 
     Before making a stroke at a ball in a bunker, a player must not:
         Deliberately touch sand in the bunker with a hand, club, rake or other object to test the condition of the sand to learn information for the next stroke.

There are other prohibitions, but this is the germane passage.

After further discussion, and contact with the USGA, the PGA Tour decided that Rule 12.2a was the deciding issue and that Rule 12.2a(1) was not appropriate.  Thus, no harm and no foul and the two stroke penalty was rescinded.  Something that does not happen very often!

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