The Norwegian called a two-shot penalty on himself after a lapse in concentration on the 15th green during the first round of the PLAYERS Championship.
The two-time PGA Tour winner’s two-under 70 was adjusted to a 72 after he apparently self-reported the infringement to tournament officials at TPC Sawgrass when he failed to replace his marker in the correct place before holing a short putt for par.
In order to clear the line for playing partner, Justin Thomas, Hovland moved his ball mark the length of one putter head away. When he went to replace it, he mistakenly moved it one putter head in the same direction instead of back to its original spot.
Hovland apparently got wind of his mistake after hearing that a video from his native Norway showed the incident taking place. The player and his caddie got in touch with the Rules Committee, which reviewed the tape.
“He had left the property,” rules official Gary Young told the PGA Tour. “I sent him a clip of the video, and he’s very comfortable with the result, that he’s getting the penalty. He understands the rule. He didn’t know he did it.”
Viktor Hovland was assessed a two-stroke penalty under Rule 14.7 for playing a ball from the wrong place.
Hovland marked his ball on the 15th green, moved it one putter-head length for another player, and then moved it again in the same direction rather than replacing it.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 11, 2021
Instead of getting disqualified for signing an incorrect card, the current World No.13 was saved by Rule 3.3b3, which states a player can be retroactively penalised shots for unknowingly violating a rule.
Rule 14.7 states that “after starting a hole you must make each stroke from where your ball comes to rest, except when the Rules require or allow you to play a ball from another place.” It continues by saying that if you “have played from a wrong place but it is not a serious breach, you get the general penalty.”
Given the two-stroke penalty Hovland was assessed, his first round of two-under 70 was adjusted to an even-par 72.
Article originally appeared on: bunkered.co.uk