New Rules of Golf announced

The two-shot penalty which cost American Jeff Maggert so dearly when he was leading the 2003 Masters will no longer be imposed under new Rules of Golf coming into force next year.

Playing the third hole of his final round at Augusta, Maggert's ball hit the lip of the bunker he was in and on the rebound struck his body. He ran up a triple-bogey seven and eventually finished fifth.

Announcing changes to 28 of the 34 rules, Royal and Ancient Club rules secretary David Rickman said today that the punishment for the "accidental deflection of the ball by the player" has been reduced from two strokes to one and in matchplay from loss of hole to one shot.

"We now deem that to be appropriate for an accidental act," commented Rickman.

The changes, agreed jointly by the R&A and United States Golf Association, are mostly to improve clarity or reduce penalties, and with the Rules of Golf believed to be the world's most widely used rule book Rickman added: "We always aim to make the rules readily accessible to golfers worldwide.

"The simpler, clearer language of the 2008 edition is designed to make them easier for players to use."

The R&A is planning to produce four million copies of the book in English - they are distributed to clubs free of charge - while affiliated golf unions reproduce them in more than 25 other languages.

An estimated 30 million golfers in nearly 120 countries are governed by the R&A, with the USGA operating in the States and Mexico.

Of the more significant changes, the one most likely to be encountered is that which allows a player to lift a ball in a bunker or water hazard when there is a need to do so for identification purposes.

Also part of the new rules, rather than appearing in a separate book as a decision on the rules, is a move to speed up play by allowing players to tap in putts while standing on or astride the line.

In addition, the penalty for carrying but not using a non-conforming club is reduced from disqualification to two strokes per hole (up to a maximum of four shots) and loss of up to two holes in matchplay.

Action on the distances ball are flying these days has still not been deemed necessary at this stage, with data from the professional game showing that there has been a levelling off in the past few years.

On the European Tour this season, for instance, only four players - Alvaro Quiros, Emanuele Canonica, Daniel Vancsik and Henrik Stenson - have drives averaging over 300 yards.

Last year there were 12 and it has not been lower than four since 2002. On the PGA Tour in America there are 21 players averaging over 300 yards. Last season it was 20 and in 2005 26.

Also announced today were revisions to amateur status allowing leading amateurs to assist in the promotion of the game. Restrictions are being eased to permit players "of skill or reputation" to have their name or likeness used to promote their national unions and associations.

This will also extend, with the agreement of the union, to competitions and other events considered to be in the best interests of the game.

"Looking to the future the R&A believes that the time is right for a fundamental review of the Rules of Amateur Status and this will be conducted over the next four-year period," said Rickman.

Seminars based on the revised rules will be conducted in Japan, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand before the end of the year.