Watch: Bizarre grandstand placement gifts DP World Tour winner lucky break
Have you ever seen a grandstand/spectator building so close to the green at a professional tournament as this one in Italy?
It is hard to decide where to start with the second shot of Andrea Pavan on the 18th hole in the third round of the Italian Open.
The Italian and home favourite fired his approach over the green but, due to how close two hospitality pavilions were built to the putting surface, his ball landed between them and close to some onlooking fans.
You can watch footage of the shot below. Have you ever seen a spectator building placed so close to the field of play at any golf tournament or indeed any sport?
But what golf fans might find more extraordinary was the result of a rules decision that allowed Pavan to putt his third shot, and putt it into the hole for an unlikely birdie and day three score of 69.
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DP World Tour ruling comes with an extraordinary grandstand placement
The buildings in which his ball landed, as confirmed by a rules official and the television commentary, were classed as temporary immovable obstructions (TIO). Because of the temporary nature of these obstructions, local rules provide relief options that are not allowed from immovable obstructions.
Other examples of TIOs are tents, scoreboards, toilets and television towers. Relief from a TIO is allowed when there is physical interference or line-of-sight interference from the TIO.
Pavan took his club lengths which allowed him to putt his ball from the fringe. The 35-year-old, who has won twice on the DP World Tour, eventually finished in a tie for fifth at Adriatic Golf Club Cervia.
This is not the first time a temporary immovable obstruction ruling has taken centre stage in professional golf this year. Xander Schauffele was the benefactor of a similar situation at the Wells Fargo Championship.
Schauffele’s ball was in a penalty area underneath trees and next to a fence, but a ShotLink tower and its cables were also in front of his ball. This was classed as a TIO, so the PGA champion could take relief as the tower was in his line.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, to name just a few.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
