Masters chiefs slammed for ‘staggering’ decision as Brooks Koepka avoids penalty for rule breach despite video evidence
MASTERS chiefs have been slammed for deciding not to punish Brooks Koepka despite video evidence of a rule breach.
The incident occurred on the 15th hole when the four-time major winners’ caddie appeared to share information on club selection.
Koepka had just hit a five-iron onto the par five when Ricky Elliott seemed to mouth something to Brennan Little, Gary Woodland’s caddie.
Elliot seemed to say the word “five” to him, helping Woodland with his club choice.
Masters officials took a look at the situation but decided there was no reason to punish them.
Koepka could have received a two-shot penalty if his team were found guilty.
The committee at Augusta said in a statement: “Following the completion of Brooks Koepka’s round, the committee questioned his caddie and others in the group about a possible incident on No15.
“All involved were adamant that no advice was given or requested. Consequently, the committee determined that there was no breach of the rules.”
Ex-PGA golfer-turned-pundit Paul McGinley fumed at the decision.
He said to the Golf Channel: “It’s very obvious. Anybody looking at those pictures, it’s very obvious what happens.
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“It’s staggering that they denied it because the video evidence is there.
“This is common practice on tour. Whether you like it or not, it happens in every professional tournament around the world.
“If the authorities want to stamp this out and really come down on this and make an example of it and obviously they haven’t.
“They’ve chosen not to do that and it looked very clearly the evidence was against them.”
Experienced caddie Craig Connelly, who works for two-time major winner Martin Kaymer, said on Twitter that the incident was an “absolute non-starter” in his mind.
Connelly wrote: “Happens every single day, multiple times a round. And, if there’s a caddie on here who says they’ve never done it, then they’re talking s****.”
Koepka was asked about the incident after an opening round of 65 gave him a share of the lead with Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland.
The American said: “Yeah, we looked at it when we got back in. They had no idea what we were hitting.
“They didn’t even know because – I know that fact because Woodland asked me what we hit walking off (the 15th), when we were walking down. So that’s all I can give you.”