ABU DHABI // Six weeks after a European Tour player was fined and forced to answer to a European Tour disciplinary panel for improperly tapping down a spike mark in his putting line, world No 10 Sergio Garcia survived a similar review on Friday morning.
In the television broadcast of the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Garcia was shown on the 18th green using his putter to smooth down a spot on the putting surface between his ball and the hole, which was similar to the violation that last month drew a disqualification, probation and a £30,000 (Dh180,000) fine for the Englishman Simon Dyson.
When Garcia arrived at the tournament site Firday he was called in to review videotape of the incident alongside the long-time tour rules official John Paramor. Replays that have been posted online are inconclusive, however.
After a review of the video, the two went back to the 18th green and Garcia showed the referee the exact ball mark that he tapped down, a tour spokesman said.
Rules allow for ball marks to be repaired, but spike marks cannot be, and a violation would have resulted in a disqualification.
Video footage of the incident was quickly posted Thursday on Youtube, prompting fast assertions that Garcia had intentionally broken the rules.
Garcia shot four-over-par 76 in the first round and was scheduled to tee off at 11.55am.
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