Tiger Woods takes p*** out of misunderstood golf rule ahead of The Masters

Bridgestone Golf just released their latest advert and Tiger Woods is bringing the jokes... and the golf education.

The video tackles a common joke and misconception when it comes to accidentally knocking the golf ball off the tee. Does it actually count as a stroke, or is just a way to get under the skin of your fellow playing partner?

In the Bridgestone video, Woods is seen getting ready to tee off at his first hole in the early morning with a group of three other presumably amateur golfers. But as Woods begins to set up, he accidentally knocks the ball off the tee. 

Cut to his fellow player partners all having the same thought: do they say something?

"It's a classic," we hear one of them think in the video. 

But before any of them can utter the classic line heard many times before when someone knocks off their ball accidentally, Woods beats them to it.

Happens to the best of us!#TeamBridgestone pic.twitter.com/wPIy4Nx7dd

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 31, 2023

The 82-time PGA Tour winner turns back to the group as he goes to re-tee his ball. "That's one right," he says - a common joke - but with a straight face. His playing partners erupt into nervous laughter before Woods immediately turns to a more serious tone. The 47-year-old then goes onto explain the actual rule regarding when a player accidentally knock their ball off the tee prematurely. The answer: it's not actually a stroke. 

And Woods is correct. According to Rule 6.1(a) in the rules of golf, a player has only started a hole once a stroke has been made. And, according to Rule 6.2(b) if a stroke is not made but a ball falls off or is accidentally knocked off the tee, a player is allowed to re-tee their ball with no penalty. 

Just last year, Zach Johnson became a perfect example of the rule when he accidentally knocked over his own ball off the tee during the Phoenix Open in February, and he was allowed to re-tee it with no penalty... just a bit of embarrassment. 

Zach Johnson has history with this. pic.twitter.com/F0MDZ88jhd

— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) February 11, 2022

And this wasn't even the first time it's happened.

Well that's a first. pic.twitter.com/w9pBZex6Cd

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 12, 2019

Has this ever happened to you? We bet it has! Share your thoughts in comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.

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