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Last week, Si Woo Kim was televised having a club-breaking tantrum at Augusta National. Today, the Golf Gods exacted their retribution.

Playing in the third round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, world No.47 Kim was putting for birdie from off the green on the par-4 third.

The former PLAYERS champion’s snaking effort crept closer and closer to the hole, looking destined to drop – only to come to rest right on the edge of the cup.

An incredulous Kim looked at the ball, stunned that gravity hadn’t taken over and forced the ball to drop.

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His player partner Matt Kuchar seemed equally bemused that the South Korean’s ball had stayed above ground.

They paused to look at the ball, seemingly convinced that it would eventually drop.

And then it did – more than a minute after Kim sent it on its way.

Check out the footage here…

All’s well that ends well – right?

Wrong.

Because Kim’s ball took more than ten seconds to drop a stroke was added and his birdie became a par.

Rule 13.3(a) determines the waiting time to see if a ball overhanging the hole will fall.

 

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It reads as follows:

If any part of a player’s ball overhangs the lip of the hole:

  • The player is allowed a reasonable time to reach the hole and ten more seconds to wait to see whether the ball will fall into the hole.
  • If the ball falls into the hole in this waiting time, the player has holed out with the previous stroke.
  • If the ball does not fall into the hole in this waiting time:
    • The ball is treated as being at rest.
    • If the ball then falls into the hole before it is played, the player has holed out with the previous stroke, but gets one penalty stroke added to the score for the hole.

There you have it. The Golf Gods, as it turns out, have long memories.


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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