Rules are rules. But their ramifications vary.
Sometimes they seem to conspire against us, piling on a penalty at the worst possible moment. Other times, they smile openly in our favor.
Think back to Jordan Spieth at the 2017 Open Championship. One minute, his chances looked bleak after a wayward drive found a tangle right of the par-4 13th fairway at Royal Birkdale. The next, he was taking free relief, dropping on friendly ground and turning what looked like a tournament-threatening disaster into a manageable bogey on his way to victory.
The scene looked outlandish. But it was entirely within the letter of the law. It was also a reminder of a simple truth: knowing the Rules of Golf can pay real dividends. Awareness of your options —especially the lesser-known ones — can turn trouble into opportunity.
Those situations arise more often than most players realize.
Consider this example, which gave rise to one of the USGA’s most-watched rules videos of 2025, with more than 2.2 million views. The explainer stars Jay Roberts, the governing body’s senior manager of rules, technology, content and education, whose online tutorials have made him a reliable guide for golfers looking to understand how the rules actually work on the course.
In the video, Roberts hits a drive wide right. It comes to rest next to a tree in a position that makes a right-handed swing impossible. Instead of declaring the ball unplayable, Roberts turns around and addresses it left-handed, his most realistic shot. There’s just one problem. In switching sides, he is now standing on a cart path.
That detail changes everything. And it’s not a problem, after all.
Because the cart path interferes with his stance for the stroke he intends to make, Roberts is entitled to free relief, even though it’s a left-handed shot. Under Rule 16.1a(3), a player is permitted to find nearest point of complete relief, take one club length, and drop — without penalty. And here’s something even better. Once the ball is back in play, he’s free to hit it right-handed.
The key caveat, as Roberts explains, is intent: the stroke the player claims interference for must be a reasonable one. You can’t manufacture relief with a clearly absurd swing. But if the shot is legitimate, the rules allow it.
It’s an elegant example of how a little rules knowledge can go a long way.
