You can play golf many ways, but the rules only give you two paths -- you either follow them and earn respect or break them and become that guy. At the second stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School, where nerves go to die, J.P. Hayes became a guy we can all respect a little more. A 43-year-old journeyman that has won on both the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, Hayes was trying, like thousands of his golfing peers, to make it through the second stage of Q-School to the all important final stage, where you either get another crack at the PGA or the solid consolation prize of the Nationwide.
Hayes won't be getting either. This is because he broke one of the many rules in golf that can cause you to be disqualified. Hayes played a non-conforming golf ball for one hole in the first round, and figured out he'd broke a big rule while laying in his hotel room a day later.
Two-shot penalty, no big deal, Hayes still shot a 74 after the penalty strokes and followed that up with a 71 in the second round. That was when he came to this horrible realization while hanging in his digs that he had done more than just evoke a two-shot penalty. Hayes might be in danger of disqualification.On his 12th hole of the first round at Deerwood Country Club last Wednesday, Hayes' caddie reached into his golf bag, pulled out a ball and flipped it to Hayes, who missed the green with his tee shot. He then chipped on and marked his ball. It was then that Hayes realized the ball was not the same model Titleist with which he had started his round. That was in violation of the one-ball rule, which stipulates that a player must play the same model throughout a round.
"I realized there was a penalty and I called an official over," Hayes said. "He said the penalty was two shots and that I had to finish the hole with that ball and then change back to the original ball."
In golf, especially big tour golf, you can play one ball and one ball only. Hayes broke that rule when his caddy tossed him a different Titleist during the round. Failing to abide by the one-ball rule is a two-shot penalty. Failing to play a conforming golf ball, which Hayes did by using the prototype, is means for a DQ."It was a Titleist prototype, and somehow it had gotten into my bag," he said. "It had been four weeks since Titleist gave me some prototype balls and I tested them. I have no idea how or why it was still in there."
He could have said nothing and kept playing. But he couldn't have lived with himself knowing he had possibly broken the rules.
"I called an official in Houston that night and said, 'I think I may have a problem,' " Hayes said. "He said they'd call Titleist the next day. I pretty much knew at that point I was going to be disqualified."
While I could never imagine being in a place to make it through Q-School, the rules in golf are the rules in golf and you have to live by the wedge and die by the wedge. While it might seem a little ridiculous that such a small infraction kicks you from the tournament, and any chance of having a regular schedule in 2009, he made the right decision and again proved that golf is the truest form of gamesmanship there is in sports.
Was Hayes mad about what happened or pissed at his caddy for throwing him the wrong ball?
"I'm kind of at a point in my career where if I have a light year, it might be a good thing," he said. "I'm looking forward to playing less and spending more time with my family.
"It's not the end of the world. It will be fine. It is fine."
As our good friend Ali G would say, respect Hayes. True respect.
h/t Deadspin
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Congratulations on your integrity, Mr. Hayes. Your name should be shouted from the roof tops - these days honesty and integrity are hard to come by. Thank you for showing the world that they still exist out there.
Let's put this guy in charge of the 700 billion bailout!
Your family must be so proud of you! Too bad there weren't more people like yourself in this world today. I applaud you Mr. Hayes!
That is crazy. I think the prevailing fact that he called the penalty on himself when no one else in the world would have known should get him off the hook. Honesty is the best policy and all that should be done to him is another stroke penalty. For him to be DQ'd like that is pathetic. He is obviiously extremly honorable and honest for what he did. He should be commended 1,000 times. However what he did was really not that bad at all and the fact that he ratted on himself should have sealed the deal that he would not be suspended or Dq'd. All the prissyness of Golf Sucks. Most golfers I know take gimmes from under 5 feet and take 2 mulligans a round. This guy is a stand up person who lives by the rules and hes the guy that has to pay? Its not right.
Kudos to JP for the honesty but tsk tsk tsk as usual to the Golf World as I call it for the DQ. Ridiculous
This shows that golfers are for the most part honorable and decent sportsmen. I think next year tournament promoters and sponsors should grant him a certain amount of sponsors exemptions. I think i would rather see him rewarded for his honesty than see Michele Wi granted one, she hasn't even won on the ladies tour yet she plays in mens tournaments at least this guy is a past winner
I can't agree with everyone here more, these are the lessons in life I want to teach my 10 yr old. He will probably reap the benifits of this decision 1000 times over from publicity . But he never thought of that, he thought about the rules of the game and how important it is to be honest with others and more important himself. You also have to understand that the only person to blame about this happening is himself. Those balls should have NEVER been in his bag because it is not the 1st time that has happened. He understands that and was man enough to own up to his mistake. Pacman, Bonds, Palmero, Clemons, YOU GUYS LISTENING????
I suggest that the tour give this guy all of the sponser exemptions that are normally given to John Daly. He deserves them way more than Daly..
The caddy should be DQ not the golfer. Simply give the penalty and get on with the round with another caddy.
I caddied for many years and 99.9 percent of the golfers were honest. The rest were dishonest beyond belief.
i am a kean golfer and have found myself calling a dq on my self for playing the wrong ball.i agree that mr hayes should be dq,d but he should also be rewarded for his honesty by being given sponsers exemptions.it would show the youth of today that honesty really does pay.
The fact that the ball was even in the bag during competition astonishes me. Golfers need to rely on their caddies to keep things straight, but they also have some responsibility to monitor them. He was responsible and he took the responsiblity. I am sure that this act of integrity is what he will be remembered for.
I hope J. P. Hayes get a sponsor exemption for every golf tournament for the rest of his life. This is what america needs more of. Dosen't seem like there are many left. It will pay off big time in his future.
A lesson we learned in kindergarten but I wonder how many have forgotten. ABC News anchor said it best when Charlie quoted "Character is what we demonstrate when nobody is watching." THANK YOU Mr Hayes!
A players focus on the golf course should solely be on the game plan for the course set up, the last thing on his mind sould be the make of the ball besides it's compression and spin. This is clearly the caddies job to do a pre-check on the equipment right before the round. The simple idea that he might loose his livelihood over this, then I will too give up on this game which I've become so much inlove with. I've been playing for 4yrs and bought tons of eqiupment. do not loose my income which is bound to continue considering my handicup is 25. penalise him but don't send him to the gillotin.
Fortunately J.P. is a 7 mil past winner who doesn't really need the money to survive. This is more of an inconvenience than a hardship. But for younger players this could be a career ender. I wouldn't blame a young player for keeping their mouth shut in this specific circumstance. An official already had the opportunity to check out the ball and gave his penalty. Although it is a fine line between illegal and unfair, and no-one really wants to cross either one. I think Michelle Wie's case fits in the same category, and she got screwed also.
Mr. Hayes, you are what golf and the competitive spirit is about. If your integrity was shared by those who sponsor the tour you would be the highest paid on tour, However you have shown that honesty and integrity are worth more than any amount of money. You may not be the one with the big check on Sunday but you are a winner and what you won...no amount of money could ever buy. I thank you Mr. Hayes for your self respect, respect of golf and for the role model that you have become!! -Mike Ramsey