GOLF No Penalty When Bee Shifts Palmer’s Ball

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30056, 14 February 1963, Page 5

GOLF No Penalty When Bee Shifts Palmer’s Ball

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

PHOENIX (Arizona), Feb. 12. Arnold Palmer, of the United States, beat Gary Player, 'of South Africa, by one stroke In the Phoenix open golf championship today. Palmer waa defending the title he had won in the two

previous yean. He was not immediately declared the winner tonight because officials were asked to rule whether the champion should be penalised one stroke because a bee moved •his ball, the United Press International reported. Palmer Waited

The incident came on the sixth green. Palmer prepared to address the ball as a bee landed on it. The golfer walked away and waited. As he came back to look at the ball the bee flew oft and the ball moved. Palmer asked the officials for a ruling on whether he would be penalised a stroke because of the movement of the ball, but the officials decided to with-hold a decision until they could consult with the headquarters of the Professional Golfers’ Association. After ■ long delay the officials ruled that Palmer should not be penalised. In today’s final round of the tournament, which had

been delayed two . days by storms, Palmer scored a 70 for a total of 273. Player, who also scored a 70 for 274, missed his chance to catch Palmer by dropping strokes on the outward nine. He came home in a string of birdies which brought him level with Palmer at the fifteenth hole, only to see the American steady his game on the final greens.

The U.S. open champion, Jack Nicklaus, had a 71 to finish in third place with 275.