‘Screw you, but thanks’ – Hadwin’s rules confession caught on microphone

Steve Carroll

Adam Hadwin was mic’d up when he was given a two-shot penalty in a rules mishap at the RBC Heritage – so we got to hear every second of it

You know golf’s truly back when there’s a Rules of Golf mishap – and TV viewers had an armchair seat for every moment of Adam Hadwin’s misery at the RBC Heritage.

The Canadian had agreed to be mic’d up for the first round at Harbour Town Golf Links and it provided a fascinating insight when he received a two-shot penalty on the par-4 13th hole.

Hadwin was removing loose impediments in a bunker when the controversy occurred.

Rule 12.2a in the Rule Book allows players to remove loose impediments in a bunker and also allows them to reasonably touch or move the sand in the bunker that happens while doing so.

But after removing one rock, Hadwin picked up what he thought was another right behind the ball – only for it to crumble in his hands.

“I’m pretty sure that’s a penalty, what I just did there,” Hadwin said to his caddie and immediately called over Mark Dusbabek, PGA Tour Senior Tournament Referee.

“I removed a rock and then I went to remove what I thought was another rock, and as I grabbed said rock it crumbled, because it was actually sand,” he told him. “It looked like a rock to me, that’s why I was trying to remove it. It was right behind the ball.”

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Rule 12.2b states that before making a stroke at a ball in a bunker players must not “deliberately touch sand in the bunker with a hand, club, rake or other object to test the condition of the sand to learn information for the next stroke”.

It later adds that players can also receive the general penalty – Rules speak for two shots – if their actions “in touching the sand improve the conditions affecting the stroke in breach of Rule 8.1a”.

Hadwin knew what was coming but still retained his sense of humour as, when Dusbabek confirmed he would be assessed the sanction, he replied: “OK, thanks. Well, not thank you, but yeah. Screw you, but thanks.”

He went on to finish tied for 41st place.

What did you think of the penalty? Let me know in the comments, or tweet me.

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About the author

Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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