2019 Rules Discussions •

In stroke play, after a one-minute search, the player returns to the spot in the fairway from which she had made her previous stroke and drops a ball having declared her intention to play a provisional ball. The player's original ball is then found by a spectator before the three-minute search period ends and before the player has made a stroke at the dropped ball. Which one of the following is correct? (Ref# 631)

• The player may elect to play either the dropped ball, under penalty of stroke and distance, or the original ball without penalty.
• The player must abandon the dropped ball and, without penalty, continue play with the original ball.
• The player must continue play with the dropped ball, under penalty of stroke and distance.
• If the player continues with the original ball, she gets the penalty for playing from a wrong place.

Correct answer The player may elect to play either the dropped ball, under penalty of stroke and distance, or the original ball without penalty.
Explanation Rule 18.1; Rule 18.3b

Why is the second option not correct, given 18.3c(3)?

(3) When Provisional Ball Must Be Abandoned. When a provisional ball has not yet become the ball in play, it must be abandoned in either of these two cases:

• When Original Ball Is Found on Course Outside Penalty Area Before the End of the Three Minute Search Time. The player must play the original ball as it lies.

Statistics: Posted by rb2475 — 9:29 PM - Today

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