Clint Rice, the world No1,188 and a reserve for this week’s US Open, had his clubs confiscated when the Australian attempted to play a practice round at Chambers Bay on Tuesday afternoon.
USGA rules, somewhat bizarrely, state that alternates are permitted to use the practice facilities if on site before the tournament begins but they should not take to the course. That has long been regarded as unfair given the players could belatedly land a place in the field without being afforded a proper look at the venue.
Rice managed four holes in the company of his compatriot Geoff Ogilvy before being approached by an official who took the 34-year-old’s clubs away. Rice, a Tasmanian who is based in Chicago and focuses mainly on teaching, walked the remainder of the front nine with Ogilvy before being reunited with his bag and clubs.
Rice refused to comment and was not visibly angry about it. His only competitive rounds this year have been in US Open qualifying, where he fell narrowly short. Ogilvy, though, expressed disappointment. “It’s a bit silly if you’re not holding anybody up or interfering with their practice,” said the 2006 US Open champion.
“I’d get it if there were no spots available for players in the field. But this wasn’t the case here. I was playing on my own in the afternoon and he just asked if he could play with me and, of course, I said yes.
“I get where the USGA is coming from, but surely the top few alternates should be able to play. What happens if he gets in on Thursday and hasn’t seen the course? He effectively has his chances limited. It’s a shame because we were having a good time and he seemed like a really good bloke.”
