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The Jordan Spieth Rule: PGA Tour Revises Scorecard Rule

The PGA Tour has amended its rule regarding the return of scorecards, an adjustment that is being referred to as the “Jordan Spieth rule.”

The PGA Tour announced a rule change just a few weeks after Jordan Spieth signed an incorrect scorecard. (Source: Getty)
The PGA Tour announced a rule change just a few weeks after Jordan Spieth signed an incorrect scorecard. (Source: Getty)

The PGA Tour has amended its rule regarding the return of scorecards, an adjustment that is being referred to as the “Jordan Spieth rule.” This change, effective immediately, addresses the circumstances surrounding scorecard errors to minimize disqualifications and unnecessary penalties.

PGA Tour Changes Scorecard Rule After Jordan Spieth Disqualification

The catalyst for the rule change was an incident involving three-time major champion Jordan Spieth at the Genesis Invitational in February. Spieth was disqualified after the second round for signing an incorrect scorecard. He mistakenly recorded a par on the par-3 4th hole at Riviera Country Club when, in fact, he had made a bogey. Spieth later admitted that he hurriedly signed his card, recording a score of 2-over 73 instead of the correct 3-over, due to an urgent bathroom break.

In response to this incident and similar situations, the PGA Tour has introduced a 15-minute window for players to correct errors on their scorecards even after leaving the defined scoring area. This amendment is a collaborative effort involving the USGA, R&A, and DP World Tour, emphasizing a unified approach across major golf organizations.

The New Rule Explained

The updated rule includes the following provisions:

  1. Post-Validation Corrections: If a scorecard is validated in the scoring system and the player has left the scoring area, the player has 15 minutes to return and correct any errors.
  2. Pre-Validation Corrections: If an error is identified before the scorecard is validated, the player can return within 15 minutes to amend the mistake.
  3. Time Expiry in Scoring Area: If a player remains in the scoring area when the 15 minutes expire, the scorecard is considered returned upon their departure.

While the general rule allows a 15-minute correction period, there are exceptions. Situations such as releasing tee times following the cut, initiating a playoff, or the end of competition might limit the correction window to less than 15 minutes.

Reception Among Players

The rule change has garnered positive reactions from many players. Tour professional Michael Kim expressed his approval on the social-media platform X, stating, “I think it is way better this way. Hopefully no more scorecard DQ’s in the future.”

However, not all players are fully satisfied. Andrew Putnam criticized the rule on X, calling it outdated. He highlighted the fact that in no other sport do players keep their own scores, particularly given that golf groups have walking scorers and every shot is meticulously recorded.