so what do you think of the notion that the top card in an A-tier had difficulties with rules' calls and rules' interpetations?
I think exactly what I wrote above. Top pros especially should read the rules carefully, and understand them fully.
The made up rules and homemade interpretations of rules are rampant in the sport. In a self officiated sport that is a huge problem. In most other sports, it doesn't matter if you never read the rule book. There are officials and referees to tell you if you or your opponent did something wrong, and make the correct call.
However, if there was a dispute in the OP incident, I fail to understand why nobody just took out the rule-book and settled it. So I don't agree with Uli that the rule book should be as thick as a college text book. Fewer people would read it, even fewer still would understand it, and no one would carry it with them in their bag. I do however agree that at a major event, someone capable of settling a dispute needs to accompany the lead card. Different outcomes may lead to different approaches for the remainder of the round. Do you play it safe or aggressively? Well that may depend on whether or not that you went OB on that first hole (Or whether or not you received a penalty or not, or what ever it may be) and you cannot play provisionals for the entire round.