Tiger Woods Water Shot [VIDEO]: Masters 2013 Controversy, Woods' Rule Violation Results in Two-Shot Penalty, Incorrect Drop on 15th Hole, Should He Be Disqualified?

The US Masters is one of professional golf's four major championships. It doesn't need any added controversy or promotion, but that is what it got when golf's biggest star Tiger Woods found himself in a bit of trouble on Friday. Of course, Woods is no stranger to controversy, but he is used to it off the course. The PGA's 2013 Masters found itself in a tough situation after Woods took an illegal drop on the 15th hole Friday at the Augusta National Golf Club.

Woods hit a remarkable shot on the 15th hole yesterday that hit the flagpole and ended up bouncing into the water. A great shot, with some bad luck. According to PGA's rules Woods had a choice to take a drop to the nearest spot of his original spot or in the drop zone. Woods decided to drop the ball near his original shot. However, by moving the ball two yards back from his original shot, Woods apparently broke the rules.

The USGA Rules for rule 26-1 states these three options (for which Woods chose the first option).

a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or

c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

PGA officials talked with Woods Saturday morning after they decided Woods would lose two strokes and start play Saturday at 1 under par, instead of 3 under par. Woods faced possible disqualification, but in a statement released by the PGA they decided to asses Woods a two stroke penalty instead. "After meeting with the player, it was determined that he had violated Rule 26, and he was assessed a two-stroke penalty," said the chairman of Augusta National's competition committee, Fred Ridley. "The penalty of disqualification was waived by the Committee under Rule 33 as the Committee had previously reviewed the information and made its initial determination prior to the finish of the player's round."

There are people who feel Woods should be disqualified after he signed an incorrect scorecard. However, because of the inclusion of high-definition cameras, allowing others to get a better look at the play, the PGA added a rule that would just penalize golfers in Woods situation, other than disqualifying them. The rule states that players who unknowingly signed the incorrect scorecard after learning of the rules infraction pointed out by cameras would receive a two-shot penalty.

There are fans and experts who feel that Woods should declare that he is in violation of rule 26-1a and disqualify himself. What do you think? Either way the 2013 Masters just got a whole lot more interesting.