Jim Nantz called for “internet police” during Sunday’s CBS Sports broadcast after a clip of Hideki Matsuyama’s chip shot began circulating on social media.
The Genesis Invitational winner went long in two on the par-5 17th on Sunday, and cameras were glued to his ball as he tried to hit a chip shot. Matsuyama moved the club under or near the ball, leading some social media users to suggest that he moved the ball or potentially violated the rules.
The clip was viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media, with the majority denying it and appearing to side with Matsuyama.
Former pro James Nitties wrote: “Hmmm (shaking his head) Any golfer knows this is fine,” while one fan wrote: “It’s shaking. There’s no movement. Everyone stay back.” Told.
The argument was also picked up in the CBS studio, with Jim Nantz explaining that the Japanese star’s ball stayed in the same position and was therefore within the rules.
Nantz referenced the clip, saying that the “Internet Police” were “playing what they thought was an awkward game with Matsuyama, who was behind No. 17, a while ago, and he said, ‘Hey, that ball moved!’ ” This is not correct!”
“The ball didn’t move. The ball moved a little bit and stayed in the same position. The ball has to move to another position. It doesn’t matter whether it’s up, down or sideways. It just wasn’t.” Same We’re not changing our position,” Mark Dasbabec, senior director TV rules and reviews analyst, said on the air.
“The ball just moved a little bit, but it stayed in the same spot. The ball has to go to a different spot,” rules and reviews analyst Mark Dasbabec said of No. 17 Hideki’s tip. pic.twitter.com/QeTQaSpaKQFebruary 18, 2024
Jim Nantz said, “Find someone else to bully.”
Rule 8.1b states that you are permitted to: “Lightly ground the club in front of or behind the ball.” “Lightly ground the club” means allowing the weight of the club to be supported by grass, dirt, sand, or other material. at or above the surface of the earth. ”
The rule even clarifies that as long as the player does not “force the club into the ground,” there will be no penalty, “even if doing so would have improved the situation that affected the stroke.”
Matsuyama eventually chipped away at the ball stone and scored his ninth birdie of the day with an incredible 62. It was one short of Riviera’s course record, but it was the lowest final round ever recorded at the famous Los Angeles venue.
The 2021 Masters champion earned a $4 million check for his ninth PGA Tour victory and returned to the top 20 in the world.
