From bbc:
Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo was among the critics who said Woods should have disqualified himself after taking an incorrect drop at the 15th.
But four-time winner Woods said he had “abided by the rules”.
“They called me in, I made a mistake, I took an improper drop and I got the penalty,” said Woods.
Woods analysis
Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta
The rules are complicated and myriad but adhered to diligently and in most cases unflinchingly. Players often call penalties on themselves. Not knowing the rules is not accepted as an excuse.
Read more from Rob
“If it was done a year or two ago, whatever, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to play. But the rules have changed, and under the rules of golf I was able to play.”
The controversial incident happened after Woods’s third shot at the long 15th hit the flagstick and ricocheted back into the pond in front of the green.
Woods took a drop, made bogey and eventually signed for a one-over-par 73.
Tournament officials initially deemed Woods’s drop legal, but decided to review the incident after he said in a post-round interview he dropped the ball “two yards further back”.
It was then determined he had violated the rule governing drops from yellow-marked (lateral) water hazards and handed a two-shot penalty.
Historically, that would have meant disqualification as he had signed for the wrong score - a six rather than an eight.
United States Golf Association Rule 33.7
A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.
Instead they decided to apply a recent reinterpretation of the United States Golf Association rules, meaning that, rather than disqualifying him, they gave him a two-shot penalty.
“He should really sit down and think about this and the mark this will leave on his career, his legacy, everything,” said Faldo.
“It’s just dreadful. Tiger is judge and jury on this. There is absolutely no intention to drop as close to the divot. That’s a breach of the rules.”
Just for the record, Faldo was one of the most unpopular players on tour among other players while he was active - widely disliked. He also has shown Tiger’s propensity for non wives. Just sayin......
One can make the same argument about any ex-famous hollywood libtard who chooses to step into the limelight and make their totally irrelevant but yet publicized comment about any conservative politician.......
Who cares what Faldo says, both the Masters rules committee and the PGA support the 2 stroke penalty against Tiger Woods and any other argument is pretty much irrelevant and sour grapes........
Get over it
As a side note, The Golf Channel this afternoon quoted several current players who initially thought that Woods should be DQ'd but after seeing and hearing all the facts, they stand by Woods........