Charley Hull’s opening round at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open was one to forget.
Hull carded a round of six-over par 78 on Thursday at the Women’s Scottish Open.
The Englishwoman played fairly average golf on the whole at Dundonald Links, but her round completely unravelled very early on.
Charley Hull made three bogeys, a solitary birdie and a seriously damaging quadruple bogey nine on the par-five fifth hole during her opening round.
Her round of 78 put her a whopping 12 shots adrift of the leader Jenny Shin after one round at the Women’s Scottish Open.
The good news for Hull is that she is currently just one stroke adrift of the cutline as she heads out for her second at Dundonald Links.
However, things could have been a lot brighter for Hull, had she taken advantage of one little-known rule.
Simple rule could’ve saved Charley Hull three shots at the Scottish Open
Hull has made a bad habit out of getting off to slow starts in the big events on the LPGA Tour this season.
And that trend continued at the Women’s Scottish Open as she carded a score of 78.
However, had she thought on her feet, Hull could have saved herself three strokes, or two at worst.
Rule 18.1 on the USGA’s list of rules and regulations stipulates that ‘Relief under penalty of stroke and distance is allowed at any time’.
As the rule states, stroke and distance can be taken at ‘any time’, and anywhere on the golf course.
That means that, yes, golfers can take stroke and distance on the greens as well.
The rule is certainly not commonly known even at the highest level of the game, but it can save golfers numerous strokes.
Had Hull been aware of the rule, or thought quicker after putting her birdie attempt off the green, she could have taken stroke and distance relief.
Then, she would have been faced with exactly the same putt for a bogey. It’s also worth noting that Hull would have been given a free read after making her first attempt.
Charley Hull’s Women’s Scottish Open hopes severely damaged
If she took two putts after taking stroke and relief, she would have made a double bogey seven.
However, had she holed the putt, she would have made a six – three strokes better than the nine that she eventually carded.
The crazy thing is that after taking stroke and distance relief, Hull’s putt for bogey would have been much more desirable than the ridiculously difficult chip that she left herself down below the surface of the green.
The Englishwoman took a further five strokes to get her ball in the hole after she putted off the green.
Hopefully Charley Hull is now aware of rule 18.1a, because it could save her strokes in the future.
Even if she had two-putted for a double bogey after taking stroke and distance relief, her 78 would have become a 76, and that could have made all the difference come the end of the week.
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