By Grant Spaeth
GolfWeb staff

Everyone with even a passing knowledge of the rules knows that the critical finding that must be made when taking relief from a water hazard is the spot "where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard"

And then the player has a number of choices, all set forth by GolfWeb in its "Quick Look at the Rules."

It is sometimes quite difficult to identify the spot, and most particularly on the 13th at Augusta, where the landing area is bordered by Rae's Creek on the left.

Referring to the outline of the hole below, one can see that a pulled shot moves right up the creek, which itself bobs and weaves a bit.

The Rules Committee puts an official down by the creek in order to help identify that point. But it is excruciatingly difficult to follow the ball -- typically coming in very high -- and decide where, up there 50 feet in the air, it last crossed the margin of the hazard. Indeed, the ball can cross the margin two or three times, depending on its flight, and if it is hooking or slicing.

If truth would have it, the official has to guess, which is doing the best he possibly can.

David Duval was tied for the lead at 3-under in the first round when he hit into Rae's Creek from the tee. Duval was reasonable in debating the matter with the official. Indeed, this official conceded that the player, 240 yards away, probably had the best angle and perspective to make the decision.

The 13th at Augusta (Courtesy of The Augusta National Golf Club)

Assuming the official and Duval somehow found the correct spot, I found it interesting that Duval dropped so close to the hazard. As shown in the hole diagram, he was free to draw a line from the distant flagstick to the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, and go back as far as he wished on that line to drop the ball. He then would have been free of the slightly dicey problem of staying under the branches when he pitched out from the spot he chose.

In past years, mistakes may have been made with rulings on this hole. Why? Because the creek seems like a lateral hazard -- it runs parallel to the direction of play. But it is marked yellow meaning it is a mere water hazard. And the reason it is marked yellow is that it is really quite "practicable" to take relief on a line from the flagstick to the point of entry.

In practical terms, this means that dropping within two clubs lengths of the magical spot in any direction no closer to the hole, is not an option available to the player.

Last year Fred Couples blew his drive on the last day to the left of the hazard and it nearly bounced into the water from the non fairway side of the creek.

So keep an eye out for that tee shot. And when you note that superb players are landing drives way up the hill to the right, it is out of fear of that dreaded hazard. Everyone knows it is in play on a second shot. We now know it is clearly in play off the tee as well.