The 45th Ryder Cup had barely begun at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, before a heated rules debate erupted, with American fans calling for Team Europe to face punishment.
During the opening-day foursomes, Jon Rahm’s tee shot on the seventh hole landed in the rough among several twigs. As Rahm and his partner Tyrrell Hatton assessed the situation, Hatton appeared to place his foot on a loose twig, which in turn shifted a larger branch near Rahm’s ball.
Some spectators believed this caused the ball to move. However, officials on site ruled that the ball had not shifted position, allowing play to continue without penalty. The ruling frustrated sections of the US fanbase, who quickly took to social media to vent their anger.
One fan wrote: “Did the ball move when Rahm stepped on the branch? Should be a penalty.” Another sarcastically commented on golf’s intricate rulebook: “Such a fun discussion. Golf has the stupidest rule minutiae.”
Despite the controversy, Rahm and Hatton went on to defeat Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4&3, securing Europe’s first point of the tournament.
What do the rules say?
Golf’s laws are clear: a ball is only considered to have “moved” if it leaves its original spot and comes to rest somewhere else, and this must be visible to the naked eye. If the ball merely wobbles or oscillates before settling back into its initial position, it is not classed as movement.
While the officials were satisfied with their decision, the incident has already become one of the talking points of day one, highlighting both the intensity of the Ryder Cup rivalry and the fine margins that can inflame debate.
