Well there is a difference between taking a drop because its unplayable or if its embedded right?
If you deem your ball to be embedded, you are entitled to pick up, clean, and drop your ball with no penalty.
If you take an unplayable, you are assessed a penalty stroke.
The thing is here, that the rules official ruled that there were no embedded lies in the sandy area even tho it wasn't a hazard.
Perhaps our resident club pro can shed some more light?
Maybe it was a local rule?

Oh, I see.
I didnt see the situation.
Yeah, these kind of rules can be local, there is always some local rules.
It just seem wierd Tiger didnt know about it.

Tiger or Kaymer.
Tiger had Kaymer come over and look at it to confirm that it was embedded.
The agreed it was so Tiger took relief.
Just crazy cuz that penalty kept him from making the cut.

Just some over zealous journalist upset he sucks at golf.