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Nicola, you make an excellent point. The relevant phrase is: "despite relief being available". Thom has argued that the first two bullet points of 9.4b/6 indicate two penalty strokes. However, in 9.4b/6 the player has decided not to take free relief even though it is available. In this case, the rules do not provide for or even allow free relief. As Nicola has said, the player has not decided against taking free relief, it is simply not allowed.nicola.pitre wrote:Please note that Interpretation 9.4b/6 states “but then decide to proceed under that Rule (19.1) despite relief being available, the right to lift the ball under Rule 16.1b is no longer valid”.
I still see that in both cited situations relief is not available due to the lack of a reference Area/Point, that’s where I consider this not a willingfull regression under two applicable rules but a forced one, which the player can’t be held responsible, paying an additional PS ex rule 9.4.
In all the examples I recall from past Decisions for instance, 9.4b is invoked where a player has lifted the ball to take free relief and then realizes: "Oops, if I drop here, I'll have to take an unplayable". In that type of situation, 9.4b should apply. If I had to rule in the field in this situation, it would be unreasonable to penalize this player under 9.4b.
STATISTICS: Posted by rbc — 57 minutes ago