Legendary golf analyst Jim Nantz provided the ideal response when online sleuths attempted to implicate Hideki Matsuyama in cheating.
During the Genesis Invitational final round, legendary golf commentator Jim Nantz had a few words to say to the internet rules nerds who suspected Hideki Matsuyama was up to no good.
Six strokes behind 54-hole leader Patrick Cantlay, the Japanese golfer started the final day of Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour event behind him.
After that, Matsuyama took the lead completely after making a birdie on the par-5 17th hole at Riviera Country Club.
With a skillful chip by the side of the green, the 2021 Masters champion set up the birdie.
Some thought Matsuyama’s Srixon Z-Star XV had moved visibly as he was addressing his golf ball.
The CBS broadcast team clearly anticipated that a rules issue would blow up, so they brought in rules analyst Mark Dusbabek.
Here was the full exchange:
They believe they are playing a game of “gotcha,” with Matsuyama just behind the 17th and exclaiming, “Hey, that ball moved! This is incorrect! Let’s introduce Duse, who has some logic in this situation.
It’s true, Jim, the ball stayed in place. The ball only slightly moved; otherwise, it remained in the same spot. The ball needs to go in any direction—up, down, or sideways—and into a new location. Simply put, it stayed in the same spot.”
“Go find somebody else to pick on!” was Nantz’s parting statement after the exchange.
“The ball only slightly moved, maintaining its original position. The ball must relocate to a new location.”
Mark Dusbabek, an analyst, rules and reviews Hideki’s chip on page 17.
This was not the first time this year that the couch sleuths have tried to ruin a player’s victory.
Some have claimed that Frenchman Matthieu Pavon shoved his ball down the grass during the Farmers Insurance Open earlier in the season.
That was prior to his amazing stroke at the 72nd hole on the south course at Torrey Pines, which set up a winning birdie putt.
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