Golf’s archaic ruling system is once again at the heart of controversy as a two-stroke penalty assessed post-round to Shad Tuten caused the Korn Ferry Tour player to miss out on a PGA Tour card.
The Korn Ferry Tour Championship is the final determinator in the season-ling race which sees 30 players graduate to the PGA Tour, and with 16 of the 30 already secured ahead of the showpiece finale, the fate of the final 14 would be decided over the weekend.
31-year-old Augusta native Shad Tuten was one of those inside the bubble, arriving at Victoria National Golf Club in Indiana ranked 29th on the Korn Ferry Points List, and after rounds of 69, 73, and 69, was placed just outside the top-10 going into the final round.
But on Sunday, Tuten, despite thinking he’d tapped in for a 74, eventually signed for a 76, after being assessed a two-shot penalty based on video evidence. A 74 would’ve seen Tuten ranked 30th and with a PGA Tour card in his pocket, instead, a 76 saw him drop to 32nd and he’ll have to go to Q-School if he’s to have proper PGA Tour status for 2024.
According to the Korn Ferry Tour: “Shad Tuten was assessed a two-stroke penalty on hole No. 15 under preferred lies local rule E-3, turning a 2-over 74 into a 4-over 76. Tuten also fell from projected No. 30 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List to No. 32.”
Chief Korn Ferry Tour referee Jim Duncan provided context on the ruling and this can be seen below.
Shad Tuten was assessed a two-stroke penalty on hole No. 15 under preferred lies local rule E-3, turning a 2-over 74 into a 4-over 76. Tuten also fell from projected No. 30 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List to No. 32.
Chief referee Jim Duncan provided context on the ruling. pic.twitter.com/a5qXcqJLFC
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) October 8, 2023
Tuten’s misfortune is evident as there was no advantage gained from the error, nor would it have been visible and noticed had it not been for television, and week-to-week, Korn Ferry Tour golf receives little to no television coverage in the United States.
But rules are rules, and in golf, the rulebook is sacrosanct.
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