Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Spring 2015 | Page 15

that’s all that matters. I don’t want that hanging over
my head if I didn’t call it. It just wouldn’t be right.”
Which just about sums up the entire selfless act.
Of course, it’s not the first time such gestures have
transpired.

Shearer had caught “fat” a bunker shot next to the
par-three 15th, but the ball left the pot and sat on the
adjacent grass as the Victorian slammed his wedge into
the sand in disgust.

Kiwi Michael Long imposed a penalty for his ball moving
while he was over a putt in the Johnnie Walker Classic
at Hope Island, then narrowly missed victory.
American John Morse called a two-shot penalty
on himself for accidentally dislodging a leaf from a
tree during a practice swing in the Australian PGA
Championship at Concord.
And arguably the most famous such incident in
Australian golf occurred at The Australian, also in
Sydney, during the third round of the 1982 Australian
Open when Bob Shearer, playing alongside Jack
Nicklaus, insisted on giving himself a two-stroke penalty
in bizarre circumstances.

But as he stepped out of the hazard, the ball trickled
backwards into the sand and Shearer, despite Nicklaus’
and at least one official’s assurances to the contrary,
called himself for grounding a club in the bunker before
his third shot.
Interestingly after his triple-bogey, as is commonly the
case with those who “do the right thing”, Shearer was
rewarded handsomely when he stormed through the
field the next day to win his only Stonehaven Cup.
Also fascinating are the tales of those who haven’t
acted with, shall we say, less than perfect scruples. But
the fact that they make the headlines as incidents out of
the box says more about the state of golf’s self-policing
ethic.
And also that you might expect the exemplary Rohan
Blizard to stand in the winner’s circle some time soon.

Rohan Blizard consults with Russell Swanson about the ruling

www.golfqueensland.org.au

Spring 2015

Q Golf 15