First came Hideki Matsuyama, and then Wyndham Clark.
The reigning US Open champion became embroiled in a rules controversy during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational when contending to win his second Signature event of 2024.
Identical to the fuss about Matsuyama three weeks ago at the Genesis Invitational, Clark placed his club behind his ball in the juicy rough on the 18th hole at Bay Hill and the footage led to suspicions across social media that his ball moved.
Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported that Clark spoke to chief referee Ken Tackett after the round who said the rules committee voted in the American’s favour and that he didn’t deserve a penalty.
“I’m not cheating or anything like that or trying to improve my lie,” Clark said, who trailed Scottie Scheffler and Shane Lowry by one shot heading into the final round.
“Obviously they zoom in, and it makes it look worse. We all talked about it and Scottie and the rules official didn’t think it moved, so fortunately that didn’t happen.”
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When the footage above emerged, the typical outrage followed from golf fans who suspected Clark had moved his ball into a different position.
Wyndham Clark ball moved: What do the Rules of Golf say?
A ball moving is defined as “when a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).”
If the ball oscillates and stays or returns to its original spot, the ball has not moved.
PGA Tour rules official Mark Dusbabek agreed with the rules committee’s decision in Florida when speaking to NBC’s commentary team on Saturday.
“That makes my heart flutter as well,” he said. “When I watch the tape, it looks like it comes back.
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“A player is allowed to ground his club with the weight of the club against the ground. That’s basically what he’s doing right there. I feel his ball didn’t move and he did nothing to affect his stroke.”
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