WATCH: Why a putt dropped after 34 seconds at the 2023 PGA Championship ultimately resulted in a penalty
A fun moment turned into a conversation about rules in the third round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. Playing alongside Jordan Spieth on a rainy Saturday, Lee Hodges was faced with a 15-foot save in the difficult 17th par-4.
His ball wrapped around the back of the cup and hovered over the edge where it sat, wobbling and daring not to fall to the bottom. At one point, even Spieth assumed the ball was still in motion because the “Title” on Hodges’ ball was spinning very slightly. Hodges’ ball eventually dropped, giving the area around the putting surface something to cheer about — a real rarity for a hole averaging close to +0.5. compared to par in the first.
Hodges hit a four on the hole, but unfortunately, it didn’t last.
Under Rule 13.3, a player has a reasonable amount of time to make his stroke and then an additional 10 seconds before making his next stroke, even if the ball is swinging. There is some ambiguity to this rule but not nearly as much as Hodges did.
Hodges’ course lasted more than 30 seconds, and after his third round was completed, he incurs a one-stroke penalty when his four strokes changed to five as he and Spieth entered the scoring tent at Oak Hill.
The 27-year-old eventually signed a 5 of 75 hit 5 bogey and 13 par on the day that proved to be the toughest at the 2023 PGA Championship. Hodges finished 10th in and out of the top 60. .
