Valspar Championship rules incident leaves PGA | Golf News

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and his taking part in companion, Isaiah Salinda, discovered themselves at the middle of a controversy during the first spherical of the Valspar Championship.

With 135 gamers vying for the top prize following the Players Championship, Valspar Championship commentators had to dissect a perplexing rule after a baffling incident on Thursday.

Commentator Orlando Pope shed mild on what may occur next after the pair required a rules official. This occurred as a suspended golf professional who was caught overtly dishonest was permitted to take part in a $2.55 million tour event.

Pope said that Salinda would have to replay his ball from the unique spot, and Neergaard-Petersen would have to play his ball as it lay after the collision.

“It is something you don’t see a lot,” Pope elaborated. “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 inexperienced, he’ll play it as it lies. Very unusual.” His broadcast colleague Dame Laura Davies was equally puzzled.

“[I’ve] never seen that before, no penalty I assume. He said you possibly can just replay it. Peculiar,” Davies remarked.

Both players recorded par on the hole, avoiding any penalties. As they compete for the top prize at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course, leading golfers, including defending champion Viktor Hovland, are sharing their thoughts on the challenging conditions as they push toward the weekend.

“Didn’t get off to a excellent start,” Hovland said following the opening round.

“Was battling there, 2-over par, early on the back 9. But made a good long putt on 16 for birdie and very good par save on 17 and stuffed it on 18 and made another good putt on 1 and 3. So I had a good little stretch going there to will get 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.”