Hi Linda,
Playing in a match, my opponent his tee shot on a par 3 into
the jungle about 15 yards away. I spotted where it had gone and told him I knew
where it was. He then hit a second ball, which landed a yard from the flag. He
did not declare his second shot a provisional. We walked to where his original ball
was and he accepted the ball was his, but he said he wasn't interested, as he
would play the second ball.
I said that as I had found it, he had to play it or declare
it unplayable. He refused, saying he had not declared his second ball a
provisional and was entitled to play his second ball.
Was he correct?
Lou from Wales
Dear Lou,
He was correct, Lou. A ball is not “provisional” if the
player has not specifically made an announcement to that effect [Rule 27-2a].
Whenever a player hits another ball without declaring it to be provisional, the
second ball is automatically in play under stroke and distance [Rule 27-1] and
the original is “lost” [Definition of “Lost Ball”].
Linda
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