Justin Thomas involved in three-minute argument with PGA Tour rules official

Justin Thomas was involved in a lengthy, heated discussion as he sought relief during the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour.

Justin Thomas involved in three-minute argument with PGA Tour rules official
Justin Thomas involved in three-minute argument with PGA Tour rules…

Justin Thomas argued with a rules official for more than three minutes during the final event of the regular season on the PGA Tour

The moment transpired during the third round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in North Carolina. 

Former World No.1 JT was playing the par-4 ninth hole when he sprayed his tee shot way, way right. 

It was so far right he was more than 50 yards from the fairway bunker. He only had 124 yards left to the hole, mind. 

But the only problem for the 30-year-old was that he was right under a tree with a scoreboard in front of him. He called over an official and sought relief. 

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Thereafter followed a discussion for more than three minutes in which hot mics picked up the two-times major champ telling rules official Peter Lis: "I feel like you're not understanding." 

Justin Thomas involved in three-minute argument with PGA Tour rules official

The duo appeared deep in discussion about 'direct line' and it's clear Thomas was referring to getting relief per a TIO. 

Golf Channel picked up Thomas saying:

"I'm kind of where I need to go around a tree and because I need to turn it, that scoreboard or something is in the way, and I don't get relief from that." 

It was pointed out to JT that the scoreboard has to be on a direct line between himself and the hole. 

Cue more conversation. 

At this point the broadcaster's rules analyst Mark Dusbabek weighed in, saying:

"TIOs are temporary immovable obstructions and very confusing for players and for the public and us at times. So there are two things that have to happen here.
"You have to have the temporary immovable obstruction between you and the hole, and number two, you have to have it on your line of play.
"The way Justin is playing his shot is not going to fulfill the second one. And that’s what Pete Lis was trying to explain to him."

Justin Thomas involved in three-minute argument with PGA Tour rules official

In the end, JT's efforts were in vain and he punched out left before failing to get up and down to save his par.

He went on to card a 4-under 66. Thomas later told a pool of reporters he was okay with the ruling, adding:

"It's one of those, like you get rulings sometimes where you almost feel bad that it's happening, and I truly felt like that was going to be one of those scenarios. It's just weird. It was between me and the hole and I just had situations before where stuff like that's happened. It's not necessarily in your way, but because it's between you, you get relief.
"It was just because the tree was there. It was one of those things like you kind of have your tail tucked between your legs asking for relief because it would only happen in a situation like this.
"But at the same time, I'm always going to ask because you never know, I could have gotten a drop and would have been able to hit on the green. So worth a shot."

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