Mexican golfer Abraham Ancer says he is “gutted” after having a two-stroke penalty assessed for an unintentional bunker error in the first round of the Masters.
In a statement from James B. Hyler, Jr., chairman of the Augusta National’s competition committee, because the touching of the sand was “deemed visible to the naked eye” and the world No. 31 signed his scorecard, a penalty was handed out.
But is it visible to the naked eye?
You be the judge.
I was just informed that I have been assessed a 2 stroke penalty for unintentionally grazing the sand in my backswing on hole 15. While I’m gutted, I can’t wait to get after it tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/5ZOlthQzeE
— Abraham Ancer (@Abraham_Ancer) April 9, 2021
Curiously, Hyler said the rules committee only decided to assess Ancer the penalty because his violation could be seen “with the naked eye.”
Had that not been the case, the penalty would have been disregarded.
Fans were livid with the ruling.
It’s nearly impossible to see from the naked eye that Ancer’s club brushed against the sand.
That small piece of sand that Ancer touched with his club?
It would’ve had no effect on the shot itself, because he wasn’t trying to get the clubface on the golf ball.
He was trying to get the clubface under the golf ball.
Ancer was unfortunately penalized for something that in this case gave him no possibility of a material advantage.