McIlroy, Simpson have run-ins with Rules of Golf

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Rory McIlroy and Webb Simpson both had to consult with rules officials on Friday. The new rules helped McIlroy save strokes. They had the opposite effect on Simpson. McIlroy was originally assessed a two-stroke penalty when he touched a clump of sand that he believed was a pebble in a bunker on the 14th hole. The penalty was rescinded when he consulted with Slugger White, the PGA TOUR’s vice president of rules and competitions, after the round. Simpson realized that his driver was cracked after his tee shot on No. 3 flew on a funny trajectory. The new rules that debuted this year allowed players to either repair or continue using damaged clubs. They were no longer allowed to replace a broken club, though. A local rule added in April once again allowed players to replace a club that is “broken or significantly damaged.â€� That no longer includes clubs with cracked faces, though. Simpson tried to hit the driver a handful more times Friday, but each shot with the damaged face resulted in a ball that flew low and left. “It didn’t fly anywhere,â€� said Simpson. He was resigned to hitting 3-wood on several holes on the back nine where he’d usually hit driver. He shot 73 to end a streak of six consecutive rounds of 65 or lower. Simpson, who was runner-up in his last two starts, shot 65 in the first round at Liberty National. He will start the weekend in 34th place. “(I’m) glad it didn’t cost me a missed the cut, but it’s unfortunate,â€� Simpson said. “I feel like it cost me a few shots.â€� McIlroy will start the weekend in seventh place, three shots behind 36-hole leader Dustin Johnson, after shooting 65-68. He said he accepted a two-stroke penalty on the course because he didn’t want to hold up play and wanted to know exactly where he stood on the scoreboard. “It was like, okay, I sort of need to get these two shots back, and I had a little bit more intensity the next few holes,â€� said McIlroy, who birdied 15 but missed short birdie putts on the next two holes. The penalty was rescinded because McIlroy did not intend to improve his lie or test the surface of the sand and did not cause his lie to be improved. “It came down to me and they said, ‘OK, are you comfortable telling us you didn’t improve your lie, and for me, I am comfortable saying that,â€� McIlroy said.

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