Golf's governing bodies propose 'fundamental' rule changes

[March 01, 2017]    (Reuters) - The elimination of "ball moved" penalties and reduction of time allowed to search for a lost ball are among several fundamental rule changes that have been proposed by golf's governing bodies.

Justin Rose of England talks with a rules official about his ball placement after a marshal inadvertently moved the ball while relocating TV cables on the second hole in the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Master Card at Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A have also proposed relaxing rules for putting greens, water hazards and bunkers, and allowing players to take a two-stroke penalty when faced with an unplayable shot in a bunker.

The proposed changes, which reduce the rules governing the game to 24 from 34, will be settled in 2018 and take effect on Jan. 1, 2019, the governing bodies said in a statement on Wednesday.

Another change would rely on a player's "reasonable judgment" when estimating or measuring a spot, point, line, area or distance, even if video evidence later shows it to be wrong. And another would impose a limit of 40 seconds for players to play a stroke.

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru, editing by Larry King)

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