Verplank disagrees with ruling

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KAPALUA, Hawaii -- There probably is no shortage of players who would dearly love the chance to play a hole over during a given round. Scott Verplank undertook such a move, sort of, during the opening round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Scott Verplank was assessed a penalty when his ball moved on Thursday. (Ferrey/WireImage)

After finding the fairway with his drive at the par-4 13th hole, Verplank prepared to play his second shot when he found that his ball had moved about an inch. No one else, including playing partner Rory Sabbatini, had seen it move.

Verplank figured he should just replace it without penalty. Rules official Mike Shea thought otherwise.

What happened was Verplank set his club behind the ball to assess his lie. He then stepped away from the ball. When he went to address it again, he noticed it had rolled down the slope slightly. PGA TOUR officials ruled that because he had grounded his club prior to the movement of the ball, he is deemed to have caused it to move. He was assessed a one-shot penalty.

Verplank didn't agree with the ruling. So he took the unusual step of playing two balls. He played from the new position, hit his approach onto the green and three-putted for a double-bogey 6. He played a second ball from the original spot and from there he made a par.

After his round, he hashed out the ruling with Shea and tournament director Slugger White. The higher score with the penalty eventually stood and Verplank signed for an even-par 73.

"The Rules of Golf are so subjective," Verplank said. "I didn't agree with the ruling at the time. I mean, was there any way that the wind gusting to 40 miles per hour and the rain blowing sideway on a hill could have been a factor? The funny thing is, no one would have known if I hadn't said something. But that's the game."

Verplank might still get a reprieve. White was planning on contacting the U.S. Golf Association first thing Friday morning to double-check the decision.