Rahm escapes potential penalty

Jon Rahm thought he was moving a loose twig, didn’t realize he had violated a rule and eventually was cleared of a penalty in the opening round of the British Open.

It was the second straight tournament in which Rahm was caught up in a rules dispute. This one occurred on the 17th hole Thursday when he was playing his second shot out of deep grass. Rahm noticed what he thought was a loose impediment to the right of his ball and went to move it. But it was a vine growing just above the ground with thorns. Lee Westwood noticed and mentioned to Rahm that he was violating Rule 13-2 for improving the area of his intended swing.

The walking rules offifficial was called over and after a brief discussion, Rahm was assessed a two-shot penalty.

That changed in the scoring area when the 22-yearold Spaniard met with David Rickman, the rules director of the R&A.

“It would not have affffffffffffected my swing unless I hit a 50- yard slice, which was not the case for any player in the world in that situation,” Rahm said.

There was no video of the incident, and Westwood and Patrick Reed were not close enough to see it for themselves. Rickman said he weighed the balance of facts and rescinded the two-shot penalty. The bogey became a birdie and Rahm’s 71 became a 69.

“At the end of the day, it’s not my call,” Rahm said.

Two weeks ago at t he Irish Open, Rahm avoided a two- shot penalty in the fifinal round despite replacing his ball incorrectly on the sixth green.