CROMVOIRT, Netherlands – While it ended up insignificant, Celine Boutier’s T.I.O. relief at the 16th hole on Friday morning at the Solheim Cup could’ve potentially been momentous.
Boutier’s European teammate Nanna Koerstz Madsen had just blown her drive right of the creek that runs along the par-5 16th fairway at Bernardus Golf, and somehow her ball stayed on the bank, though in the penalty area on the gallery side of the hole.
The Europeans — two down at the time — received a huge break.
Boutier, playing the next shot in the foursomes format, was granted free, line-of-sight relief from a temporary pedestrian bridge constructed next to a small, permanent crossing about 170 yards from the hole. The bridge, considered a temporary immovable obstruction, had about 4-foot-high railings covered with mesh. It was a reasonable issue for Boutier, who was about 40 yards back from the bridge — down on the bank, ball above her feet, and facing a gnarly lie.
According to Model Local Rule F-23, free relief from T.I.O.’s, whether by physical interference or line of sight, is available when the ball lies in a penalty area or when the T.I.O. is out of bounds. However, the relief area “must be in that … penalty area.”
“The closest point happened to be on the other side,” said Boutier, who dropped on the left side of the creek, on a much flatter lie and with her ball looking like it was almost on a tee after she was allowed to place it following unsuccessful drop attempts.
Unfortunately for the Europeans, they couldn’t capitalize on their good fortune. Boutier still had to lay up, and Madsen later whiffed on a 5-footer for par that handed the hole and the match to their American counterparts, Lauren Coughlin and Alison Lee.
The first session was split, 2-2, though who knows what would’ve happened had the Europeans tied or even won the 16th hole.
Later in the lunch line in media dining, a few rules officials were bemoaning the location of the bridge, which could factor into this Solheim Cup again.
Maybe then someone will take advantage.
