Top amateur golfer Neal Shipley was hit with a one-shot penalty for causing his ball to move at the US Open.
According to a USGA statement given to NCG, Shipley’s second shot on hole 13 at Pinehurst came to rest on the upslope short of the green during the third round on Saturday.
“In preparing to make the stroke, Neal set the club down behind the ball and then adjusted the club when the ball then moved,” the statement read. “Because the ball had been at rest for some time and then moved immediately after he adjusted his club, it is virtually certain that he caused the ball to move.
“Shipley got one penalty stroke under Rule 9.4 and replaced the ball on the original spot.”
Shipley, who lost in the final of the US Amateur Championship in 2023, scored a double-bogey as a result of the penalty. He shot a 71 to finish on 4-over-par, neck and neck with fellow amateur Luke Clanton as the race to be the lowest amateur at the third major of the year heats up.
(All images courtesy of the USGA)
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Rule 9.4 applies only when it is known or virtually certain that the player’s actions, or their caddie’s actions, have caused the ball to move. You can read more about the rule and its exceptions here.
“It was a shame really. Neal hit a great drive. The pin’s in a real tricky position there with it being front right,” Aaron Rai said, Shipley’s playing partner. “Hit a wedge shot, which looked good. Just spun back off the front of the green.
“He went to play his third shot. Took the necessary precautions to have his club further back behind the ball. Felt the lie was a little bit sketchy where the ball could move. Unfortunately, it did move back.
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“Personally, I don’t feel he caused the ball to move. I don’t think it should have been a one-shot penalty. But the USGA officials deemed it to be that way. Unfortunate really.”
The 23-year-old was the low amateur at the Masters in April having played in the final round with Tiger Woods. He is a fifth-year graduate student at Ohio State University and won the Southwestern Invitational in his final year.
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