Pugh said he got the idea from another player whose caddie used the battery-less rangefinder during the U.S. Open. Pugh said he inquired with the R&A earlier this week about whether it was allowed at Birkdale, \u201cand he went to the very top (of the organization), and I was given the green light.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pugh said he informed the rest of the group and the walking rules official on the first tee Thursday that he intended to use the device for that purpose, asking the official for a second opinion to ensure that he was \u201cabsolutely correct.\u201d The official returned a hole later with a thumbs up.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy eyesight isn\u2019t great \u2013 the glasses aren\u2019t there to just make me look cool. I sometimes struggle when the ball comes down,\u201d Pugh, 50, said afterward. \u201cSo I\u2019ll use the rangefinder, which pretty clearly has no battery inside,\u201d he said, showing the device to reporters outside the scoring area. \u201cIt does nothing more than magnify.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I checked, double-checked, triple-checked with the R&A,\u201d he said, \u201cand all good.\u201d<\/p>\n
What Pugh saw Friday were plenty of perfect shots, with Herbert missing a 4-footer on the last that would have given him the lowest score in men\u2019s major championship history. Herbert settled for an 8-under 62 that gave him a two-shot lead in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was obviously very, very cool,\u201d Pugh said. \u201cAn incredible day.\u201d<\/p>\n
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