{"id":523394,"date":"2026-03-08T23:07:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T23:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/523394\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T23:07:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T23:07:09","slug":"scottie-scheffler-penalised-after-ball-gets-stuck-in-tree-at-arnold-palmer-invitational","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/523394\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottie Scheffler penalised after ball gets stuck in tree at Arnold Palmer Invitational"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scottie Scheffler was left frustrated during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational after his tee shot on the par-3 14th became stuck high in a pine tree, ultimately leading to a costly double bogey.<\/p>\n

Playing at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, the World No.1 tugged his tee shot left of the green and into a bunker-side pine. Although players and spectators were convinced the ball belonged to Scheffler<\/a>, it was lodged too high in the branches to be properly identified. Under the Rules of Golf, a player must be able to identify their ball. Without confirmation, it is deemed lost.<\/p>\n

Scheffler and his caddie, Ted Scott, spent a couple of minutes trying to confirm the ball\u2019s markings. Scott even used a photographer\u2019s camera to zoom in on the ball, but neither those on the ground nor television cameras could clearly identify Scheffler\u2019s Titleist Pro V1 (see below).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Scheffler <\/p>\n

Scheffler was unable to identify his ball<\/p>\n

After the three-minute search period expired, Scheffler was forced to return to the tee under penalty. He was taken back in a cart and played his third shot, finding the green around 40 feet from the hole before two-putting for a double-bogey five.<\/p>\n

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If the ball had been identified, Scheffler could have declared it unplayable under Rule 19.2 for a one-stroke penalty. However, without identification, the ball was officially lost.<\/p>\n

The incident was summed up rather perfectly on X \/ Twitter by one golf fan, who wrote: “Dumbest rule ever. Obviously the ball is in the tree otherwise the gallery would have circled the ball in the rough. Rule will be changed after this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Scheffler <\/p>\n

Scheffler had a week to forget at Bay Hill<\/p>\n

The incident summed up a frustrating week for Scheffler, who did not break 70 all four days.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While Scheffler bounced back with a birdie on the 15th, he missed a two-foot putt for par on the par-5 16th, which played the easiest hole on the course all week.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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To his credit, he made a tramliner for birdie on the par-3 17th to move into the red for the final round, but then found the water down the par-4 18th for another double bogey to sign off with a 73 and 2-under par total just inside the top 30.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The four-time major champion finds himself at 4-under par and just outside the top 20 as he heads down the 18th.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Scheffler was once again paired with fellow American and United States Ryder Cup teammate Harris English on Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The group also sparked discussion among fans after English\u2019s caddie, Eric Larson, appeared to glance<\/a> at Scheffler\u2019s club selection on the 14th hole. However, the Rules of Golf allow players and caddies to observe another player\u2019s club choice visually. A penalty would only apply if someone asked or was told which club had been used.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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