Brian Harman’s second swing on the Stadium Course’s 10th hole looked good. He finished about 10 feet away. He had a birdie look.
Then folks looked closer.
Wrong ball.
He’d hit someone else’s.
Said analyst Curt Byrum on the Golf Channel broadcast: “My goodness.”
Said analyst Billy Ray Brown: “It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen that event unfold. That is a huge mistake there.”
Said analyst Smylie Kaufman: “It’s the worst feeling in the world.”
In the end, the mishit led to a two-stroke penalty on Thursday during the first round of the American Express event. On Harman’s fourth stroke — from the original ball’s spot — his ball hit off the rocks to the left of the green and dropped onto the green, and he two-putted for a double bogey.
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.”
So who’s ball did Harman hit?
According to the Golf Channel broadcast, it wasn’t the ball of playing partner Max Homa — he had hit his second shot on the hole before Harman — but it was an amateur’s ball. This week, pros are paired with the ams for three rounds. As to how the mistake happened, there were theories.
“Well, most certainly every single time you play a round of golf,” Kaufman said on the broadcast, “you compare golf balls mainly with the guys you’re playing with in your group. Now for the most part, the amateurs are always a tee up, so you’ll compare your golf ball to, let’s say, Brian Harman would show Max Homa his ball today. But you really don’t walk up to the amateur tee and compare your golf ball.
“So they could’ve had similar marks; we’re not really sure. Could’ve been the same number. But still, it is the job of the person hitting the shot to know that’s their golf ball. So very, very unfortunate.”
Notably, Harman put a marking on his white Titleist ball with a black Sharpie.
Said Byrum on the broadcast: “I mean, that ball is well-marked. … It must not have been logo up.”
Said Kaufman: “That had to be what it was — the logo was down, and they get up there and they realize they hit the wrong ball.”
