Golf is all about rules, no matter how weird some may sound. And while some weird rules may affect someone’s game, some of them can be useful for many. In a similar event at the $9.8 million Valero Texas Open, Jordan Spieth was given a free drop. However, fans were quick to rally against the PGA Tour for the decision.

The incident unfolded when Spieth’s ball came to rest beneath a large boulder. His long-time caddie, Michael Greller, helped lift the boulder so that the 13-time PGA Tour winner could take his shot.

“Michael Greller’s job description: CADDIE OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED* *lifting boulders,” the PGA Tour wrote, sharing an X post on the same.

It would have been a complicated situation, which would have significantly influenced the outcome of the hole for Jordan Spieth. However, he got a free drop because of Rule 16.1. According to this rule, golfers get relief from abnormal course conditions such as animal holes or insect infestations.

Upon seeing an ant on the ball, officials further assessed the situation and determined that the presence of an ant bed qualified as an abnormal condition. As the PGA Tour shared the post on social media, fans started praising Greller for lifting the heavy rock. However, it also attracted some scrutiny from fans who were not happy to see Jordan Spieth getting a free drop.

Fans slam ruling as debate over fairness intensifies

The final decision was up to the officials, who ruled in Spieth’s favor. However, a large section of fans was not convinced by it. Shortly after the PGA Tour shared the clip on X and Instagram, fans began to criticize the decision.

One fan didn’t mince words, writing, “Ridiculous that he got a free drop from this.” The comment captured the sentiment of many frustrated fans who thought it was unfair to others. They felt that the relief stretched the spirit of the rules, even if it technically fell within them.

Since the officials were the ones making the final decision, they had to face criticism, too. One user wrote, “Rules official bottled it, should have told him to get lost.”

Unfortunately for Spieth, though, Valero often seems to present him with such situations.

In 2024, in one of the most erratic performances seen during the week on the 18th hole, Jordan Spieth put up a performance to remember. After missing his tee shot, landing the ball in a drainage area, Jordan came up with a unique solution and decided to hit the ball towards the roof of the clubhouse, from where it rolled into a gutter, knowing that this could help him get a free drop.

“Slow play, loose impediment, etc. Why have rules if they are not enforced. Weekend warriors play harder golf because they follow more rules of the game,” one comment read.

Well, the rules were followed to the T. While rule 16 offers relief from abnormal course conditions, rule 15 offers relief from loose impediments and movable obstructions. Tiger Woods found himself in a similar situation at the 1999 Phoenix Open. On the 13th hole, his ball landed behind a massive boulder, which blocked any shot toward the green. After consulting the rules official, Orlando Pope, the rock was deemed a loose impediment.

In fact, Woods was even allowed to get help from spectators who moved the boulder and cleared his path. This allowed him to score a birdie, though he didn’t win the event. While the ruling followed the letter of the rules, it sparked widespread debate over whether it violated the spirit of the game.

Sarcasm became a common tone as well. Echoing similar sentiments, one fan wrote, “Great lesson so now when my ball is under a boulder just say I saw ants and get relief!” While the tone was sarcastic, the message was clear. The user conveyed the same disbelief many other fans had.

Taking advantage of the rules around grey areas, one fan asked for a change to another rule. “So you get a free drop from an ant bed in the rough, but no relief from a divot someone ahead of you made in the fairway. Please change the divot rule,” the user wrote.

The comparison touches on a widely debated issue in the sport. There are no rules for taking relief from a fairway divot mark. Ideally, the divot will always need to be filled in, but there will be instances where this might not be possible. In addition, should the ball end up within a divot, there is no relief.

This backlash highlights a recurring tension in professional golf. The letter of the law and its on-course interpretation don’t always align with public expectations.