While Australian PGA Tour player Stuart Appleby was cruising to a six shot victory recently at the Shell Houston Open, the victory wasn’t without a brush with the Rules.

During the third round at Redstone Golf Club, the phone lines in the PGA Tour Rules Office rang off the hook believing Appleby had either touched the bunker or a loose impediment in the bunker during play of the 8th hole.

Appleby’s second shot on the par 5 had come to rest in a greenside bunker. Arriving at his ball, Appleby noticed an insect on his ball in the bunker. CBS-TV captured Appleby trying to persuade the insect to leave while getting very close to his ball with his finger.

The Rules of Golf define such an insect as a loose impediment, and the player may not touch or physically remove the insect from the ball, as it appeared Appleby may have done. Decision 23-1/5.5 however, states that since the insect is capable of moving by itself the player may “encourage” the insect to leave without penalty, so long as the player has not touched the insect or the ground in the bunker.

After many calls, PGA Tour Tournament Director Mark Russell asked Appleby about the incident several holes later. If an infraction had occurred the Tour feels it best to the integrity competition, if the penalty is applied as soon as possible so to preserve the status of the competition for all competitors. As it turned out Appleby was very aware of the Rule and in fact the Decision and no breach had occurred.

It helps to know the Rules of the Game of Golf, especially at the highest level.