You show up at a golf tournament on the first day of play. You warm up a little bit. You hit some putts to get the feel. You make sure you’ve got something in your stomach before you head to the first tee. When you show up, you get handed a few things, including a pin sheet for the day and a scorecard.

In the tent there is a sheet of local rules for the week. Most caddies snag one for their players, but for full disclosure, hardly ever check it closely.

Ryuji Imada won’t be one of those players anymore. At the Mission Hills Star Trophy tournament in China, Imada was administered 26 shots in penalty strokes because he didn’t pay close enough attention to the rules.

You see, the Blackstone course was wet, so they decided to let the players lift and clean their golf balls through the green. Imada was doing that fine, but in Europe and Asia, you only get a scorecard’s length from where the ball originally was. In the States, it is always a club length.

Imada got two strokes per hole for 13 holes after playing partner Danny Lee noticed what he was doing, leading to an incredible quote from the 34-year-old pro golfer.

"I’m an idiot," said Imada, who admitted he had not read the local rules sheet.

If he hadn’t got all those penalties, he would have been tied for the lead, but at least he didn’t pull a Nick Faldo.

Sir Nick, obviously not in tournament form by any means, just picked his golf ball up on the 8th green, forgetting that there was a professionals-only competition going on as well as the pro-am format, and was promptly disqualified.

So, this is your yearly Devil Ball reminder that reading the rules sheet might not be the most exciting thing to do before teeing off, but it probably won’t hurt.

Oh, and Europe and Asia … a scorecard’s length? Come on, why in the world you gotta be so confusing?

And as we close out the week here at Devil Ball, we present you with this little tidbit from the Windy City: Chicago Bulls past and present carving up a golf course. Yes, many of them have multiple championship rings, but they still look like they’re beating gophers with their swings:

Where’s Michael Jordan to whip these guys into shape, huh?

[Visor tip: Docksquad Sports]

Not playing this week? No problem for Lee Westwood, who is set to become the No. 1-ranked player in the world on Sunday after Martin Kaymer got off to a slow start in Spain.

Kaymer, currently ranked third in the world, needed a win or a second-place finish to take over the top spot from Tiger Woods, but his shaky start at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters means that Westwood will most likely be the one to replace Tiger up top.

How big of a deal is this? Well, for us golf fans, it’s pretty huge. Having a European atop the rankings is something we haven’t seen in ages, and it means that the golf world is really globalizing (not like you couldn’t tell that from the recent Ryder Cup win, the Euros’ fourth win in the last five matches).

But, it’s also something that probably should have happened a while ago. Tiger has been in the top spot for five years, but his play the last 12 months has been anything but No. 1-worthy. He hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since last September, and his reign at the top was dwindling quickly.

So, what does this say for our rankings when a guy like Lee Westwood, who has just one PGA Tour win in the last 12 years, is going to be the ranked atop the world in golf? It means that consistency matters over anything else, and this season, Lee has been great.

No matter, there is a good chance that going into 2011, the top-two ranked golfers in the world won’t even be full-time players on the PGA Tour. Looks like it’s time for those young Americans we’ve been hearing so much about to finally take a step up and start winning the big events.

If not, the European Tour might become the most talented group of golfers from top to bottom, if it isn’t already.

Today we welcome author Tom Callahan to the Golfcast, talking of all things Tiger. Specifically, Tom has just published "His Father’s Son: Earl and Tiger Woods," a book that examines in minute detail both the history of Earl Woods and the relationship between Earl and Tiger. As you’ll hear, Earl Woods was quite the tale-teller, spinning stories about virtually every element of his life. He’s the man who made Tiger Woods who he is, for both good and ill. And while the Thanksgiving Escalade wreck helped clarify some elements of Tiger’s life, it actually had little impact on the book itself. Earl’s work was evident both on and off the course. It’s a fine book, and Tom gives us some excellent insight into who Tiger is now and who he could become in the years ahead. 

We welcome your thoughts, ideas and recommendations on the podcast. Hit me up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. And if you’ve got a question or comment for us to kick around, call our Skype line at 678-389-9173 and leave your message. Click the little arrow below to play the podcast or right-click it to download, and hit the iTunes site linked below to subscribe. Have at it!

Devil Ball Golfcast, Episode 56 — "His Father’s Son" author Tom Callahan

It’s got to be one of the most thrilling moments in your life. You tee up for a charity hole-in-one contest, you swing, and boom — ball goes in, you’re rich!

Except sometimes, things don’t work out that way. Presenting the Case Of The Misplaced Ace, starring — get this — Alonzo Mourning (right) and Donald Trump.

The scene: Alonzo Mourning’s charity golf tournament at Donald Trump’s National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. In August, Marty Greenberg, a former Commodities Exchange chairman, played in the tournament and scored the million-dollar ace on a 150-yard hole. All good, right? Whether or not the guy needs the money, everyone could use an extra seven figures, right?

Not so fast. Apparently the company running the tournament, Florida Team Golf, used insurer Odds On Promotions to underwrite the $1 million prize, since most charities don’t have a spare mil to dispense here and there.

According to Odds On officials, the hole had to be at least 150 yards to qualify. But when officials reviewed the tape, it looked a wee bit less than 150 yards — "12 to 15 yards" less, company president Mark Gilmartin said. And when Odds On investigators went to the course to investigate, lo and behold, the tees had been moved back to a 150-yard location, not the one visible on the tape. Hmmm.

As a result, Odds On denied the claim. Mourning and Greenberg released a joint statement that read, "We are confident that any potential issues will be resolved quickly and amicably so that [Alonzo Mourning Charities] can continue its longstanding commitment to inner-city children."

So the question is, who moved the tees? And why? This is the kind of thing that will leave someone feeling [puts on David Caruso sunglasses] subpar. 

[Visor tip to Teddy KGB for the tip. Give the man his money.]

As we sort out the season’s storylines in golf, we’re bringing aboard some guests to discuss the events of the year. This time around, we welcome Sports Illustrated’s Alan Shipnuck, a fixture on the golf media scene. He’s the author of Bud, Sweat and Tees: A Walk on the Wild Side of the PGA Tour, The Battle for Augusta National, and Christina Kim’s Swinging from my Heels, which he co-wrote. Today, we discuss everything from Tiger Woods to Anthony Kim‘s partying habits to the secrets of Augusta, and so much more.

As always, I’m joined by Shane Bacon, writer here and at Dogs That Chase Cars. (Follow Shane on Twitter right here, and while you’re there, follow me too.)

We welcome your thoughts, ideas and recommendations on the podcast. Hit me up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. And if you’ve got a question or comment for us to kick around, call our Skype line at 678-389-9173 and leave your message. Click the little arrow below to play the podcast or right-click it to download, and hit the iTunes site linked below to subscribe. Have at it!

Devil Ball Golfcast, Episode 55 — Sports Illustrated’s Alan Shipnuck