He did it when he walked in as well. When he first looked at the ball he stepped on the same grass. It's the correct ruling - he absolutely knew what he was doing and it did knock down the grass enough to avoid hitting it with the club.
I feel that when you can't conclude if it was on purpose or accident, the sensible response should be a 1 shot penalty as that covers the advantage he gained
Even a 20-handicapper knows this rule. You cannot improve the lie, including your intended swing path. As a pro golfer, Bryson should know better. Rule 8.1. is very clear, and I applaud the R&A rules officials for enforcing the rule for such an egregious violation during its most prestigious tournament. Lesson learned for Bryson, hopefully.
Only a camera angle from behind his intended line of play would truly show whether he pushed the grass down along his backswing's path and as far as we know, we don't have that angle. However from what we do see, it looks to me that during his backswing the club passes directly over the area he stepped in.
You don't remember Nick Faldo then getting confrontational with a Swedish referee at Wentworth when the referee wouldn't allow him to PLACE his ball after it finished on a plastic bag, referee said you must drop it,it was in a trampled down area and Faldo wanted to place it. He threw his arms in the air ,got the spectators on his side to pressure the ref, a swede I'm a 6 time major winner was what Faldo was banking on in his pressuring of the referee ,Peter alliss and Alex hay were on his side too.But when the Chief Referee arrived he backed the Swedish referee and explained to rules " expert " Faldo why he had to drop it, of course when it was over it wasn't mentioned again, no commentators went to the scene of the crime to explain why Faldo was wrong or criticise him for using his fame to try to get the ruling changed...
Remember when Macyntire took 20 practice swings in the rough and then decided he needed a drop. And right in the area where he was taking swings. Weird. Adam Scott remembers.
I do that down my local municipal golf course,
Every time i hack it in the rough
To get a better shot In my round of 131
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Every time i hack it in the rough
To get a better shot In my round of 131