Did you know about this golf rule Keegan Bradley took advantage of at CJ Cup?

Keegan Bradley has been involved in some interesting rules issues on the PGA Tour over the years, but he was smart enough to take advantage of this one during the second round of the CJ Cup. 

They are playing at Congaree Golf Club this week in South Carolina. The course is renowned for just how much sand there is. 

Bunkers and waste areas line the course at every turn. It has distinctive, links feel and plays very firm and fast. 

Related: Did you know about this golf rule Rory McIlroy took advantage of?

But back to Bradley - who claimed his fifth PGA Tour victory at the ZOZO Championship in Japan last week - and he was in a world of trouble at the par-4 15th hole. 

His tee shot wasn't great and his golf ball ended up plugged in the sand. On-course analyst Smylie Kaufman described it as "one of the worst lies I've ever seen". 

Bradley didn't even attempt the shot. 

What is important is that all sand is considered waste area and the Rules of golf treat is as part of the general area. 

It's a distinction that can cost you dearly, as Dustin Johnson found out at the 2010 PGA Championship when he grounded his club at Whistling Straits and was hit with a two-stroke penalty when he was leading playing the 72nd hole of the major. 

Bradley wanted to declare his ball unplayable and take a penalty. Had he been in the bunker, he would have had four options under Rule 19.3. 

Those being:

1. For one penalty stroke, the player may take stroke-and-distance relief 

2. For one penalty stroke, the player may take back-on-the-line relief in the bunker

3. For one penalty stroke, the player may take lateral relief in the bunker

4. For a total of two penalty strokes, the player may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the spot of the original ball.

Related: Keegan Bradley, WITB?

Credit: PGA Tour

In summary, if the sand were a bunker and Bradley wanted to declare his ball unplayable, he would have had to re-hit his previous shot or take two penalty strokes. 

However, the sand was considered part of the general area and Bradley took advantage of Rule 19.2, meaning he was able to take lateral relief. 

When he did play his next shot, he left himself around 10 feet for par. He missed, but it could have been a whole lot worse. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Watch one of our videos: