Harrington-gate: The Social Media Backlash and Why the Rules Should be Changed

Since Padraig Harrington’s disqualification from the Abu Dhabu Championship was announced, the world wide web has been awash with argument as to the rights-and-wrongs of the decision. Harrington’s dismissal from the tournament is the third high-profile sanction in just four weeks of the new 2011 season, after Eliot Saltman’s warning off for three months, and Camilo Vilegas’ disqualification from the Hyundai Tournament of Champions – also brought about by a TV viewer.

Harrington was disqualified for signing for signing for an incorrect score, brought about by a two-shot penalty that should have been applied to his score following an incident on the seventh hole, where the Irishman brushed his ball with his hand while removing his marker. Harrington’s ball moved a fraction of a centimetre, but didn’t fully return to its original position. Harrington thought his ball hadn’t moved – merely oscillated – and continued to play.

The incident only came to light when a viewer emailed European Tour officials to highlight the issue, and after review Harrington was thrown out. And this is where much of the contention lies; that such a decision can be made, after evidence is presented by a member of the public AFTER the round.

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter became battlegrounds as golfers, Padraig fans and even professionals waded into the argument. Much of the consensus was aimed in support of Harrington, with many feeling the Irishman was hard done by, even though the rules state disqualification was the right course of action for European Tour officials to take.

“I think what needs to be examined here by the Tour is whether or not it is appropriate to examine… and apply sanction on an issue using TV evidence, it is not equitable given that every stroke by all 126 Competitors are not filmed, that to be is the big issue and the big Discrepancy here.” said Enda Longergan on the Direct Golf Facebook page.

“If this was football, there would be uproar. Imagine a team having a goal chopped off after the final whistle because someone watching on TV emailed the FA to say the goalscorer was offside? Even more so if that goal was the difference between a trophy win, or a relegation.” added Brian Healy on the same page.

Tour pro Ian Poulter also had his say on the matter via his Twitter stream, with a veiled dig at the anonymous reporter, and a blast at the rules.

“I think I should set up a game of tiddlywinks. sell seats Harrington vs Myself set up a web cam & get people to referee by phone in.”

“Rules of Golf Book Rule 22-4 paragraph 3 line 7, “the rules of golf are complete bollocks and are stuck back in 1932″. Couldn’t agree more”

The ruling even made waves stateside, with Golf Channel host Kraig Kann stating through his Twitter page:

“Maybe its time a “rules official” sits full-time in the production truck to make calls that now get made first by viewers. Crazy stuff.”

Kann’s tweet was retweeted no less than thirteen times, including by PGA Tour veteran Paul Azinger.

Harrington was magnanimous after the ruling, stating through his Facebook page:

“I have no one to blame but myself, rules are rules and I take full responsibility for the incident. It occurred on the 7th green yesterday when I picked up my coin and accidentally touched the ball. I use the Titleist logo to align the ball and I checked that it was still in the same position pointing towards the target and was quite comfortable that the ball had not moved. It is only after seeing slow motion replays earlier today that it is evident that my ball had moved by a dimple and a half, whilst I was completely unaware that it had not returned to its original position at the time. In fact no penalty would have been incurred if I had been aware of this and replaced my ball to its original position. However, the fact that I signed for a wrong score means that I am now disqualified.”

“I would like to thank the European Tour rules officials for their professional handling of the matter this morning. I am disappointed but worse things happen and I take comfort from my solid play yesterday. I now plan to use the next three days working hard on my game ahead of next week’s tournament.”

However, the social media furore that has sprung up following the incident should hopefully prod the R&A into reviewing the application of the rules in today’s technological age. The rules of golf have been around since time immortal with little change to take into account changes in the way we play the game, new technologies. They are also cumbersome and over-complicated to fully learn and understand, and perhaps need to be addressed to bring them into line with the modern world.

The incident which caught out Harrington is one which happens on every green of every golf course around the country, during recreational and medal play – not just in the big tournaments, and in almost every instance will go unnoticed and unpunished. Harrington has been unfortunate that his fate has been sealed by a TV viewer who has felt it his (or her) moral duty to uphold the rules of the game from their armchair.

While the rules state that Harrington was right to be disqualified for signing an improper score, there should be no trial by television after the fact, unless all players are equally exposed to the cameras. That means having TV cameras on every hole, following every player and with every second of footage scrutinized for misdemeanours. It is something that will never happen, not just down to the cost to the TV company, but also to the media circus effect such action would cause, not to mention the damage to the course itself.

The R&A have a romantic notion that the scorecard once signed is sacrosanct; a document that cannot be changed or altered once the player has given their signature. This is one area that should be addressed and revisitation should be allowed, especially in cases where penalty stroke incidents come to light – and through official channels, not some armchair referee watching the action on Sky Sports.

This is a man’s liveihood, and while Harrington is surely not short of a few quid, the same incident could easily have happened to a lesser pro fighting to retain his card, where every penny counts. Such a disqualification could have a devastating effect on a struggling player’s career.

Perhaps an update to the rules could allow:

a) A player, having reviewed an incident and agreeing a penalty should be applied, should – with the supervision of a Tour official – be allowed to revisit and amend their scorecard to the correct score for the hole and round total, and re-sign.
b) Let the first round score stand. Let the player review the incident and if in agreement a penalty should be applied, add it to the start of the player’s second round – effectively starting them at two-over par for their round.
c) Disqualification, only if a player disagrees with the Tour official’s judgement that a penalty should be applied.

Most players would likely not take option ‘c’ and I’m sure would rather combat the slightly higher score, which could lead to a change in playing partner or tee-off time, or alter their mindset for the next round, knowing they will have to attack the course more to wipe out the deficit.

The golf purists might not like it, but change is sometimes necessary. As is a good dose of common sense thinking, specially if it brings about the greater good.