What do you do when someone breaches a rule and then breaches another rule as part of their next stroke? It depends on the format, but this scenario is not as egregious as it might seem.
Shaun Norris was strolling along on Sunday, in contention to win his third career European Tour event at the Nexo Championship at Trump International in Scotland. Then, on the fifth hole, golf’s rules jumped up and bit him.
Spain’s David Puig was not aware of what he did, but when shown a replay of the shot he agreed it was a violation and was assessed the penalty because he touched the sand while addressing the ball, violating rule 12.2b.
Cameras had a close-up view of Lowry’s ball in the rough as he took a practice swing at the 12th hole, and the ball visibly moved after his iron passed through the nearby grass.