Wyndham Clark has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the PGA Tour following his free drop throughout the second spherical of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The 2023 US Open champion took free reduction following his tee shot on the third gap after match officers dominated that his ball landed in its personal pitch park.
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Had it rolled into one other divot, Clark may solely have taken a drop underneath penalty, however as an alternative he was allowed a free drop.
Clark was main the match on the time when the controversy struck, resulting in mass confusion.
Footage of Clark’s tee shot made it very tough to gauge whether or not or not his ball had landed in his personal pitch mark or in another person’s on the green.
However after overview, the PGA Tour cleared him of any wrongdoing.
In an announcement, the PGA Tour’s guidelines committee mentioned: “After reviewing ShotLink video of Wyndham Clark’s tee shot on the third gap throughout the second spherical of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the PGA tour guidelines committee decided that the ball returned to its personal pitch mark, which entitled Clark to free reduction.”
Reflecting on the incident, Clark mentioned: “I didn’t know there was any confusion, clearly after I’m taking part in.
“We by no means noticed it bounce. Then we rise up there and it’s in a plugged lie.
“My ball was coated with mud. So we took reduction and didn’t assume something of it.”
The PGA’s affirmation got here after PGA Tour Director of Guidelines Wealthy Pierson was referred to as to debate the ruling.
“Wyndham’s ball didn’t embed, his ball bounced and landed and rolled into another person’s pitch mark,” confirmed Pierson to PGA commentator Craig Perks.
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Perks then mentioned to Pierson: “So you’ll be able to nonetheless get reduction from that clearly then?”
Pierson replied: “I didn’t see him take reduction from that, Craig? He wouldn’t be allowed reduction from another person’s pitch mark.”
Perks then acknowledged: “Okay, so the lie we’re seeing proper now from Wyndham was completely different than one I suppose from the place his ball got here to relaxation.”
To which Pierson mentioned: “That is right.”
Because it stands, it is Shane Lowry that leads within the PGA Tour occasion following his five-under-par second spherical.
He sits two strokes above Clark on the high of the leaderboard after the American managed a one-under-par spherical.