Drama! has hit Augusta National Golf Club, and it’s not because of golf. Tianlang Guan, a 14-year old Chinese amateur who’s been the story of the week so far, was assessed a slow-play penalty on the 17th hole of his second round. Guan was sitting near the cut line at 3-over at the time, and he was forced to mark a bogey on his scorecard on No. 17, even though he made only four strokes on the hole.
Masters 2013: Tianlang Guan assessed 1-stroke penalty after warning on 12th at Augusta
The reaction to a controversial one-stroke penalty for a the 14-year old has been swift and furious.
Guan was apparently warned about the pace of play from rules official John Paramor, a EuroTour official who was called the “Joey Crawford of golf.” Here’s Paramor warning Guan as he prepared to cross the bridge to the 12th green at Amen Corner:
And then just five holes later, Paramor worked up the onions to hand the 14-year old the one-stroke penalty. Here’s the confrontation where Guan became aware of the impending penalty:
It’s a pretty dramatic move to hand it out to the 14-year old amateur, as almost every round out is exceeding five hours today. Guan’s round was roughly five hours and 15 minutes, so there was nothing too egregious about the pace. It’s slow, but not abnormal, and there hasn’t been a slow-play stroke penalty assessed to a player at a major since 2004. This one could prevent history, as Guan was just inside the cut line at 3-over and now has to settle at 4-over. The cut is now hovering around 5-over, and he still has a shot to make it if he’s within 10 strokes of the leader.
As you can imagine, the reaction from Twitter was swift and furious. Here’s a sample, including some quotes from Lil’ Wayne and his playing partners, Ben Crenshaw and Matteo Manassero (quite a cross-section there):
Guan shouldn't have the penalty. Shame on the Masters
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) April 12, 2013
This may be the most moronic move Augusta has made. If Guan misses cut b/c of his penalty, golf will never live it down.
— Stina Sternberg (@StinaSternberg) April 12, 2013
Slow-play penalties that were rescinded per Golf Digest June issue: Gary Player (1980 PGA) and John Schroeder & John Brodie (1981 U.S. Open)
— Dan Jenkins (@danjenkinsgd) April 12, 2013
Pace of play is horrendous. And the 14-year-old gets dinged? Tiger has been out there for 1 hour, 25 minutes. Hasn't finished No. 4.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) April 12, 2013
Penalty for slow play? To a 14yo, history making nonmember? First time in 18 years? Slow play sucks, it's rampant, but bedevil someone else!
— Christina Kim (@TheChristinaKim) April 12, 2013
How composed is Tianlang Guan to par 18 and keep his cut hopes alive after receiving the one-stroke penalty on 17?
— Sean Martin (@GolfweekSMartin) April 12, 2013
Ben Crenshaw on slow play penalty to Guan: "This isn't going to wind up pretty. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry this happened."// Mockery!!
— Steve Flesch (@Steve_Flesch) April 12, 2013
The Joey Crawford of golf... RT @ellingyelling Jon Paramor gave Guan penalty, they say. Was in middle of big Tiger/Paddy slow-play kerfuffle
— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) April 12, 2013
More from an indignant Crenshaw: "I'm sick. He's 14 years old."
— Sam Weinman (@samweinman) April 12, 2013
Matteo Manessero played with Tianlang Guan said "he's been slow...It didn't feel too slow for me but the times are saying that."
— Kelly Tilghman (@KellyTilghmanGC) April 12, 2013
First slow play penalty in PGA Tour-sanctioned event since Glen Day at 1995 Honda Classic. See? Told you Guan would make history this week.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGC) April 12, 2013
Brutal. 1st slow-play penalty in 18 years and officials dish it out to a freaking 14yo? I guarantee there were slower pros. No backbone.
— Stephanie Wei (@StephanieWei) April 12, 2013
Simple fact is if I was a 14-year-old trying to make history I'd be taking my sweet ass time too.
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) April 12, 2013
Slow play has been a bane on tour for decades. Maybe a few penalties are way overdue. Irony is problem predates 14 yr. old kid. #masters
— Dave Shedloski (@DaveShedloski) April 12, 2013
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