PGA Tour Pro Receives Penalty for Putting Breach Despite Jordan Spieth Rooting for Him

Lee Hodges waited for a putt to drop but waited too long, according to the rules.

Lee Hodges was assessed a one-shot penalty Saturday at the PGA Championship for doing something on the 17th green that originally made both him and Jordan Spieth, his playing partner, smile. 

Hodges had a 16-foot bogey putt that stopped just a rotation away from dropping in from the backside of the cup. 

After Hodges hit the putt, Spieth could be heard saying, “I think it’s gonna go,” while his playing partner waited patiently besides the ball. The problem was that Hodges waited too patiently for the ball to ultimately fall into the cup. 

"I think it's gonna go."@JordanSpieth knew this putt from Lee Hodges was going to drop 🕳️ pic.twitter.com/CNJdYCP3Og

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 20, 2023

According to Rule 13.3a, a player can only wait 10 seconds for their putt to drop once they approach the ball. A statement from the PGA of America said that Hodges waited longer than 10 seconds, and would therefore be penalized one shot, giving him a double-bogey six on the hole. 

“During play of the 17th hole, Hodges played his first putt to the edge of the hole and after having walked up to the hole, behind his ball, he then waited more than 10 seconds. The ball then fell into the hole, after the ten second limit provided for in the Rule. As a result, Hodges received a one-stroke penalty, under Rule 13.3a, and the ball was holed,” the statement read. 

Hodges shot a 75 in Round 3 of the PGA Championship.