US PGA: Leader Mito Pereira in drop controversy

It wouldn’t be a major championship without a rules controversy, would it?

This time it was Mito Pereira at the PGA Championship. Leading by three shots at the time, the Chilean took a VERY debatable drop on the ninth.

After finding the first cut down the left, Pereira found his ball lying in the crosswalk, meaning he was able to take a drop.

• Tyrrell Hatton rages at Southern Hills greens

• Robert MacIntyre continues major streak

However, rather than taking the ball back on a line with the pin, he elected to drop it on the fairway within a clublength of its original position.

He was granted relief under a local rule, which allows players free relief plus an additional clublength from abnormal course conditions.

There was no suggestion Pereira had done anything untoward regarding the rules – but the decision to drop on the fairway proved controversial.

Several viewers, including Sky Sports analyst Wayne Riley, were unhappy, with the Australian commenting: “I just don’t believe this drop.

• The big names to miss the cut at the PGA

• US PGA: Zalatoris hits the front on day two

“You’re supposed to keep the line of the flag.”

The decision didn’t make too much difference to the Chilean, who still missed the green on the way to a bogey.