The European Tour wrote to golf's governing body in 2008 about the rule which could have saved Padraig Harrington's Abu Dhabi disqualification.Accidentally moving his ball a tiny fraction of an inch in his opening 65 - good enough to put him second place - should have cost the three-time major winner a two-stroke penalty.
But, because he had already signed his scorecard when a television viewer raised the issue with officials, he was out of the £1.7million event.
The Tour's senior referee Andy McFee disqualified Harrington on Friday, just as he did when he was five ahead with a round to go at The Belfry in 2000 after it was discovered the Dubliner had not signed his first day card.
"It is very harsh - the punishment does not really fit what the player has done," said McFee. "That's unfortunate.
"It's something the (US) PGA Tour and ourselves have raised with the governing bodies and as yet we have not put forward an argument that has convinced them."
The rules in America and Mexico are administered by the United States Golf Association, but for the rest of the world it is the St Andrews-based Royal and Ancient Club.
Their rules of golf director Grant Moir told Press Association Sport that a letter was received from the European Tour on the matter in July 2008.
"Obviously in the light of this and what happened to Camilo Villegas (the Colombian was another victim of 'trial by television' in Hawaii earlier this month) the significance of the disqualification penalty has been brought sharply back into focus," stated Moir.
"Certainly with the introduction of every-increasing scrutiny and enhanced images there is a fresh impetus to have a look at it and see if the rules are still appropriate.
"The fundamental principle is that it is the responsibility of a player to turn in an accurate score and eroding that principle would be a significant move.
"But we have looked at the possibility of introducing a decision to deal with a situation where enhanced images show a breach of the rules that even the player could not know about."
Harrington's ball was brushed by his hand as he replaced it and picked up his marker.
He knew the ball rocked forward and then rolled back, but thought he was okay to continue. However, the evidence of slow-motion replays was enough to convince McFee that it did not quite return to its original position.
And this in the week, of course, when Scot Elliot Saltman was given a three-month ban - the first on the circuit since 1992 - after being accused of repeatedly moving his ball forward after marking it.
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship resumed today with holder Martin Kaymer, seeking a third win in four years at the event, 12 under par and three clear.
South African Charl Schwartzel, winner of the Joburg Open last Sunday, was the German's nearest challenger with US Open champion Graeme McDowell one further back.
Kaymer requires only a top-seven finish to replace Tiger Woods as world number two.