Viktor Hovland took it on the chin on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Norwegian incurred a two-shot penalty after the first round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass’ Players Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Hovland, a two-time winner on Tour, inadvertently played his ball from the wrong spot while on the green at the par-4 15th hole.
According to the Tour: “Viktor Hovland was assessed a two-stroke penalty under Rule 14.7 for playing a ball from the wrong place. Hovland marked his ball on the 15th green, moved it one putter-head length for another player, and then moved it again in the same direction rather than replacing it.”
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“I think he heard about it from someone in his home country,” said Rules official Gary Young. “I think it might have shown up on the feed in Norway. He and his caddie reached out to our committee and asked if we had any video of it, because he had no recollection of doing it.”
“He had left the property,” Young said. “I sent him a clip of the video, and he’s very comfortable with the result, that he’s getting the penalty. He understands the rule. He didn’t know he did it.”
If you’re wondering why Hovland wasn’t disqualified for signing an incorrect card, check out Rule 3.3b(3), which states a player can be retroactively penalized shots for unknowingly violating a rule.
After initially signing for a 2-under 70, Hovland now sits at even par, T-42.