Harrington Embroiled in Strange Rules Controversy During Senior PGA Championship Competition
What Happened When Bird Droppings Wrecked Padraig Harrington's Golf Game
Padraig Harrington, a three-time Major winner, found himself neck-and-neck in a tournament, but an unusual situation at the 14th hole changed everything.
After nailing a stunning second shot onto the green, Harrington found himself 30-feet from the flag, ready to seal the deal with a birdie. But there was a problem—a big one. A bird had done its business on the green, right in Harrington's line of sight.
You might wonder, what's a golfer supposed to do in such a situation? Well, under Rule 15.1a, you can remove a "loose impediment" without penalty anywhere on or off the course, and this includes bird droppings. However, Harrington pointed out that these droppings were not exactly loose, leading him to seek the help of a rules official for guidance.
The official confirmed that Harrington could indeed remove the item from his line before hitting his shot. And with a bit of elbow grease, Harrington managed to scrape off the bird droppings and hole the putt for birdie—temporarily taking a two-shot lead.
However, his victory turned sour when he encountered a costly double bogey at the 15th hole, wiping out his advantage. After bogeying on the 18th, Harrington finished one shot behind eventual winner, Angel Cabrera.
"I've had a lifelong problem with getting confident and cocky," admitted Harrington after his runner-up finish. "I just get over-confident. I'd be much better off if I got to the 15th hole and there was water everywhere."
In essence, a simple bird problem on the 14th hole transformed into a costly mistake on the 15th, ruining Harrington's chances at another Major win.
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Despite being 30-feet from the flag and ready to secure a birdie on the 14th hole, sports legend Padraig Harrington encountered an unusual impediment - bird droppings on the green. Recalling the golf rule regarding loose impediments, he initially considered removing them himself, but found them to be a bit stubborn for easy removal.
