China's Wen-Chong Liang today became the first player to be disqualified from a tournament under new rules banning hot drivers. Liang was discovered to have used a banned driver during the first two rounds of the Caltex Masters in Singapore.
The Mizuno 300 SII model is one of almost 150 clubs which, have been deemed non-conforming by the R&A and USGA under a new rule which came into effect from January 1, 2003.
The rule is designed to limit the distance the top players are hitting the ball courtesy of the spring-like effect off the club face.
Although the clubs currently conform under Appendix II of rule 5a of the Rules of Golf, they will become non-conforming in 2008, and in the short-term have been ruled contrary to the following Condition of Competition which can be used by committees in charge of competitions restricted to highly skilled players from January 1.
Filed by Johnny Proby
