Carl Yuan’s final round at the 2024 Sony Open was saved by a bizarre ruling.
Yuan found a fairway sand bunker on the 18th, a par 5 of 550 yards. He was tied for the lead with five other players at 16 under. His second shot went wayward right, and landed in a tent on the right side. Yuan’s golf ball was not found but a PGA Tour official gave him a free drop two club-lengths away from the hospitality tent, ruled a Temporary Impairable Obstruction. Yuan failed to capitalize on the opportunity and shot par, taking the lead in the clubhouse at 16 under.
But they never found the ball… But they never found the ball…
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— Joseph LaMagna 15 January 2024
Todd Lewis, Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, reported shortly after the incident that a rules official had said that there was “virtual assurance” from video evidence as well as fans on the stand that it was the ball that was lost in tent.
According to the USGA and R&A if the player’s ball cannot be found, but it is known or almost certain that the ball has come to rest within a TIO “the player can take relief by estimating the point where the ball crossed the TIO edge on the course in order to find the closest point of relief.”
The video shows the ball disappearing after it flies near the tent. How could fans or officials know for sure that the ball was lost inside the tent if it wasn’t located? Since hospitality tents can be noisy, how could fans know that the ball didn’t bounce out of play if they heard it hit the tent?
It was a strange ruling, but it did not affect the winner. The Tour will have to explain this one.
