Scottie Scheffler was at the centre of controversy during his final round of The Open when he was given a free drop on hole 17.
Scheffler fired an effort into the hospitality area while playing the par-five 17th, with R&A rules officials awarding him free relief even though they couldn’t find his ball.
It is a ruling that has attracted plenty of anger from golf fans, with the American having gone on to miraculously birdie the hole to go within one of the lead on Sunday.
Scottie Scheffler rule controversy at The Open angers fans
Discussing the major Scheffler incident at Royal Birkdale, Sky Sports’ Inci Mehmet said on course: “They’re taking relief from the temporary immovable obstruction (TIO).
“You don’t need to find your golf ball to do that. It won’t be a penalty shot.”
But many golf fans have been left unhappy by the incident, with one writing on X: “I don’t give a single s— about TIO. A golf ball was not found and a player got a free drop?! Absolutely terrible look for the game of golf.”
A second agreed, saying: “I’m a huge fan of Scottie Scheffler. But getting relief on 17 after completely hitting it off-line and losing his ball is absolutely ridiculous and something that should not have been rewarded. TIO is so broken in men’s professional golf.”
Others shared their frustration, noting: “R&A will need to answer for that Scottie drop that’s just foul,” and “We got to reassess the rules if Scottie gets a free drop from that shot.”
Further anger from another read: “Talking about self-policing and integrity within the game of golf, Scheffler should never accept this ruling right? This is not how anyone should want to win.”
And another wrote: “Ah cool, Scheffler loses his ball in a bush, people said they saw it go in, but because it might be in the temporary structures he’s getting free relief, and they wonder why the Bryson [DeChambeau] fans think the PGA and R&A have an axe to grind against LIV guys still.”
Another fan commented: “The R&A is a complete joke. Scottie just blew his ball into oblivion where a 100-person search party couldn’t find his ball. The ruling was because the stands were in the way he gets free relief? Yeah okay, sure! Should have been a double-bogey at best and ends up with birdie.”
And further frustration arrived elsewhere with the comment: “Absolutely absurd TIO relief for Scottie on 17. Not sure giving him that protects the field.”
Scheffler’s fellow professional Mike Kim has also gotten involved, writing on X: “Wow even I’m dumbfounded by that TIO relief from Scottie.”
How Scottie Scheffler was able to get a free drop at The Open
It is indeed the “virtual certainty” rule that has helped Scheffler in the final round of The Open Championship in Southport.
It is in the R&A handbook, with relief allowed if the ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a TIO.
Mark Litten, the pro at Royal Birkdale, was also able to clarify the incident, saying on Sky Sports’ coverage: “We are almost certain that his ball is on the temporary immovable object. We don’t actually have to find it.
“If we can’t find the ball, we use the point of entry as his new entry point. Now he will get line of sight. We find the edge of the TIO with the equidistance length.
“He measures two club lengths, and he has to drop the ball within the second club length, and it has to remain there.”
They were very dramatic scenes at Royal Birkdale, which could have a major impact on the final leaderboard.
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