Tom Kim and Brian Campbell weren’t disqualified.
We’ll start this report positively.
Which, of course, can only mean there was unfortunate news for the PGA Tour veterans. That came Friday, on the 9th hole at Vidanta Vallarta golf course, which was their final hole after starting on the back nine during the second round of the Vidanta World Mexico Open. Both Kim and Campbell had started the hole at five-under for their round. Both Kim and Campbell had started the hole at nine-under for the tournament. Both Kim and Campbell hit the left side of the fairway with their tee shots, and both Kim and Campbell dropped their second shots into the right greenside bunker.
Both found disaster after that. From the sand, Kim hit Campbell’s ball, and Campbell hit Kim’s ball, which is a rarely seen mistake in pro golf and a no-no according to the rules. The error was first reported by Golf Channel’s Damon Hack.
During the broadcast of the second round, video showed Kim, Campbell and a rules official talking next to the greenside bunker. Each player was given a two-stroke penalty, and they finished the par-4 with double bogeys.
“It’s blame on both guys here,” analyst Brendon de Jonge said on the Golf Channel broadcast. “It’s one of those things, especially if you’re in a bunker, you’ve got to pay close attention to what you’re doing. You’re looking down at the lie; you’ve got to figure it out. Which golf ball is yours?
“It’s really a mistake you cannot afford to make.”
Both players will still play the weekend — and they did avoid a DQ. For clarity, here is the wording of Rule 6.3c (1) that describes what happens when a wrong ball is played:
“In stroke play, the player gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes) and must correct the mistake by continuing play with the original ball by playing it as it lies or taking relief under the rules. The stroke made with the wrong ball and any more strokes before the mistake is corrected (including strokes made and any additional penalty strokes solely from playing that ball) do not count. If the player does not correct the mistake before making a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning their scorecard, the player is disqualified.”
Said de Jonge about the mistakes: “Unfortunately that will ruin the round because that’s one where you certainly are kicking yourself.”
