Two golf balls collided on the green during the Valspar Championship in a rare incident that left PGA Tour stars and commentators baffled as rules officials were called to intervene
13:44 ET, 21 Mar 2026Updated 07:48 ET, 22 Mar 2026
Neergaard-Petersen and Salinda were in a confusing rules situation during the first round of the Valspar Championship
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and his playing partner, Isaiah Salinda, found themselves at the center of a controversial moment during the opening round of the Valspar Championship.
With 135 players vying for top honors after the Players Championship, Valspar Championship broadcasters had to explain a puzzling rule following a bizarre incident on Thursday.
On the 16th green, Neergaard-Petersen hit his ball from the fringe and narrowly missed the hole, whilst Salinda’s ball simultaneously rolled in and struck the 26 year old Danish player’s ball. Commentator Orlando Pope offered clarity on what would happen next as the pair required a rules official.
The incident came after Rory McIlroy was told he has a big “problem” with his Masters Champions Dinner menu.
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Pope explained that Salinda would have to replay his shot from its original position, whilst Neergaard-Petersen had to play his ball where it stopped after the collision.
“It is something you don’t see a lot,” Pope clarified. “If the ball wasn’t played from the putting green, he would play as it lies. But since [Salinda’s] ball was on the putting green he will replay that stroke.
“The ball he collided with, Neergaard’s ball, that was chipped from off the green, he will play it as it lies. Very strange.” His broadcast colleague Dame Laura Davies was equally baffled.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – MARCH 1: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen tees off from 9th hole tee during the final round of the Cognizant Classic 2026 at PGA National Resort And Spa on March 1, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Pimentel/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
“[I’ve] never seen that before, no penalty I assume. He said you can just replay it. Peculiar,” said Davies. Both competitors made par on the hole, avoiding any penalty strokes.
As the field battles for top honors at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course, leading contenders, including defending champion Viktor Hovland, are sharing their thoughts on the challenging conditions heading into the weekend.
“Didn’t get off to a very good start,” Hovland reflected following the opening round.
“Was battling there, 2-over par, early on the back nine. But made a nice long putt on 16 for birdie and very nice par save on 17 and stuffed it on 18 and made another nice putt on 1 and 3. So I had a nice little stretch going there to gets back to 2-under.
“A little disappointing bogey there on the par-3 after a three putt and just couldn’t make another kind of coming in, even though I felt like I played better finishing the round. So all in all somewhat happy with the 1-under after still not feeling very comfortable out there, but I am seeing some progress, so that’s nice.”