Rules of Golf discussions and meanings • Provisional ball

Having played a provisional ball for an original ball that was hit long, but into deep undergrowth, player A chooses not to search for the original ball. 3 minutes later, A plays the provisional ball from a point farther away from the hole than where the original ball was likely to be. A then walks across the other side of the fairway to assist fellow competitor B to search for their ball. 9 minutes after A had played their original ball and 6 minutes after they had played a second stroke with the provisional ball, a spectator finds a ball in the area where A's original ball was thought to be lost. 2 minutes later A positively identifies it as their original ball. Which ball is in play? Is it relevant how long the outside agent was looking for A's ball?

Barry

Statistics: Posted by 999Q — Today, 12:50

---