Cam Davis Sunday on the 15th green at the Plantation Course in Kapalua.
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Cam Davis should have scored from 48 yards out. And Will Zalatoris should have scored from 37 yards.
If they were not they would each be slapped with a penalty of two strokes and, as the case may be, the deduction of fees.
“It’s going to be expensive,” said analyst Mark Rolfing.
The problem? In Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour’s Sentry Championship, each pro learned he would hit the other’s tee shot on the 551-yard, par-5 15th hole at the Plantation Course in Kapalua — and no according to the rules. Davis and Zalatoris then played where they should have played, plus two shots, and finished with bogeys.
How did it happen? Neither player spoke at official press conferences afterward, although announcers on the Golf Channel broadcast offered some input.
Rolfing said: “Wow, what two mistakes there.”
Said Dan Hicks: “Especially with the money involved here and the FedEx Cup points. It’s frustrating, disappointing, all of the above.”
Rolfing said: “It almost doesn’t seem possible in today’s game. You can’t play your football.”
Said Hicks: “Losing a bit of focus, isn’t it? Just act casually. ”
In the end, Davis tied 13 and earned $410,000, while Zalatoris tied 26 and took home $163,333.33. But what if each played the right ball in the hole – and was not punished? Davis would move into a tie for fifth and earn $715,625, while Zalatoris would tie for fifteenth and collect $283,200 – a difference in earnings of $306,625 for Davis, and $119,866.67.
Notably, if the players had not corrected the error before starting the 16th hole, each of them would have been disqualified. For clarity, here are the words of Law 6.3c (1) that describe what happens when a foul ball is played:
“In a stroke play, the player receives a standard penalty (two penalties) and must correct the error by continuing to play the first ball by playing it as it lies or free under the rules. A stroke made with the wrong ball and any other strokes before the fault is rectified (including strokes made and any additional penalty strokes arising from playing that ball) do not count. If the player does not correct the error before making a stroke to start another hole or, for the last hole of the round, before returning his score card, the player is disqualified.”
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