The 45th Ryder Cup began on Friday, and some fans are already demanding that Team Europe face punishment after a controversial incident.
The tournament, which is being held on the Black Course of Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, got underway on Friday as the foursomes partnered up in pursuit of glory.
Europe – captained by Luke Donald - are the holders of the trophy and boast stars such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, and Tommy Fleetwood.
Team USA – led by Keegan Bradley – have the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas in their ranks.
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Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton opened with victory over DeChambeau and Thomas, but there was a huge talking point on the seventh hole of the course.
Rahm hit his tee shot into the trees on the right side of the course, causing the ball to become stuck in the rough, which was surrounded by twigs.
After a discussion and a period of confusion, Hatton appeared to place his foot on a loose twig, which then pushed a thicker twig placed in front of the ball.
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Some fans claimed that this allowed the ball to move, but Ryder Cup officials ruled that it did not move. If the officials deemed the ball to have moved, Team Europe may have faced punishment.
Nonetheless, some Team USA fans were enraged and took to social media to offer their take.
One said: "Did the ball move when Rahm stepped on the branch?!
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"Should be a penalty."
Another added: "Can we move this stick without the ball wiggling a quarter inch?
"Such a fun discussion. Golf has the stupidest rule minutiae."
A third claimed: “Amazingly, why Ryder Cup is interesting.”
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While a fourth commented: “Very sticky.”
Rahm and Hatton went on to secure Team Europe’s first point of the competition with a 4&3 victory over DeChambeau and Thomas.
What are the rules for moving a ball at the Ryder Cup?
One of the main principles of golf is to play the ball where it lies without any outside influence.
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According to the Rules of Golf, relayed by NCG, the ball has only ‘moved’ if it has “left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye”.
But “If the ball at rest only wobbles (sometimes referred to as oscillating) and stays on or returns to its original spot, the ball has not moved”.
Luke Davies