Here’s how to handle this minor rules gaffe

Golf Digest

Coming off one of his most controversial “Stupid Golf Problems” columns ever—the polarizing debate on keeping the flagstick in or out—Chris Powers smartly went Problems Lite this week with thoughts on calling a penalty if a fellow golfer tees up in front of the tee markers. In my group, I can’t remember the last time anyone noticed, and when you’re playing for fleeting moments of pride and not money, who cares about a few inches? But the subject does allow me a rant about tee markers. Blink twice if you’ve arrived at a tee and found the markers placed so cockeyed that they face you into a grove of trees or large bed of water. Setup people, you had one assignment … Rico Hoey, the PGA Tour player who took a break from competition and worked at a course, told me one of the first things he was taught was how to properly align the markers. So, yeah, head pros and superintendents, do us a favor and remind your people about attention to detail. The game’s hard enough. We don’t need this kind of “help.” Now, back to your regularly scheduled reading ...

Stupid Golf Problems: How do you call someone out for this minor golf infraction

Don’t be a jerk, and say something before a golfer swings.

By Christopher Powers

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Jonathan Wall

Scottie Scheffler swapped his TaylorMade Qi10 driver for a Qi4D (8 degrees), and early returns have been solid. His 61 on Friday left him three shots ahead of the field at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, as he gained more than 1.5 shots off the tee with the new big stick. This isn't the first time Scheffler has tried out Qi4D, but it is the first time he's used one with some unique crown cosmetics. With the latest Qi4D build, the 30-year-old added a gloss crown—a visual throwback to his previous Qi10. The standard Qi4D comes equipped with a matte finish on the crown. It's a small creature comfort for a guy who's won three majors and knows exactly what he wants to stare down at when he addresses the ball.

Tod Leonard

This is almost too sad to make light of. Almost. Korn Ferry Tour pro Ryan McCormick stepped up to his 18th hole of the day—the ninth at Hillcrest Country Club—in the Albertsons Boise Open on Friday with three bogeys and no birdies on his card. He then pumped his drive on the straightaway, 411-yarder way left and out of bounds. McCormick reloaded and hit left again. OB again. Reloaded, left and OB for the third time. You’d think that maybe he’d say screw it and slice the heck out of one just to get in play, but no, McCormick hit two more OB on the left for a total of five. It's quite the visual on ShotLink. With all the penalties, his 11th shot finally found—you guessed it—the left rough, and he ended up draining a 20-footer(!) for a 13. McCormick signed for an 83 and missed the cut—his seventh lost weekend in 10 starts this year. As a golfer with anger issues who once taped his mouth shut so as not to berate himself, we truly hope he’s doing anything but hitting balls today.

Shane Ryan

Jim Furyk says there's a new U.S. Ryder Cup qualification system coming. Ten days ago, Europe announced its qualifying system for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, and as befits a team who piles on success after success, it looks basically the same as 2025 … and 2023. Today, U.S. captain Jim Furyk told Golfweek that America's system will be announced after this year's FedEx Cup playoffs, but that unlike the Europeans, big changes are afoot. There's not much information yet, but apparently the change will skew toward valuing events that take place in 2027, which means it could end up looking like the European system, which has always put far less emphasis (read: none) on off-year majors. The only American who won a major this year was Wyndham Clark, so in theory this is bad news for him. “It’s going to be the right way to identify the best six players in September 2027," Furyk said.