Unhappy Gay

SO YOU thought you knew the rules of golf. So did professional Brian Gay, who now has a lot to feel aggrieved about. A putt in last weekend's Honda Classic cost him a one-shot penalty instead of a bigger share of the prize fund.

On the 17th hole at Heron Bay, Gay's ball stood teetering on the lip after a 30-foot putt, then finally fell into the hole, much to his relief. But, on closer inspection, the official "Slugger" White called a foul which cost Gay almost £60,000. White watched a video over and over again before deciding that the ball took 13 seconds to fall from the time Gay reached the hole - three seconds after the expiry of the 10-second rule.

The absurdity is that if Gay had taken more time to walk over to his ball, it would have fallen within the legal time limit, i.e. 10 seconds from the time he reached it and he would not have been penalised.

Try arguing that one in the Captain's Prize.