"Was that not my ball?" Kim Ju-hyung's baffling mistake on the PGA Tour... He and his opponent swapped balls and played each other's, resulting in a 2-stroke penalty for both

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Korean golf star Kim Ju-hyung (24) made a baffling mistake on the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) Tour. He and his playing partner swapped balls and played each other's. As a result, both players received a 2-stroke penalty.

On the 31st (Korean time), at Vidanta Vallarta (par 71) in Banderas Bay, Nayarit, Mexico, Kim Ju-hyung recorded 3-under-par 68 on the second round of the PGA Tour's Vidanta World Mexico Open (total prize money of $6 million), combining five birdies and one double bogey.

With this, Kim Ju-hyung sits in a tie for 26th place with a cumulative total of 7-under-par 135. The gap to the leader, who was 5 strokes ahead after the first round, widened to 7 strokes in the second round. The leader is Andrew Novak (USA), who has recorded a cumulative total of 14-under-par 128.

Kim Ju-hyung started on the 10th hole that day and saved one stroke in the front nine. In the back nine, he chased the leaders by birdieing the 3rd hole (par 5) and then catching three consecutive birdies from the 6th to the 8th holes.

However, an unexpected incident occurred on the final 9th hole (par 4). After sending his tee shot to the left of the fairway, Kim Ju-hyung dropped his second shot into a bunker on the right side of the green. Coincidentally, Brian Campbell (USA), who was playing in the same group, also dropped his second shot into the same bunker.

The problem came next. Kim Ju-hyung hit Campbell's ball from the bunker. But Campbell also hit Kim Ju-hyung's ball. A rare situation occurred where both players mistakenly played each other's balls.

Ultimately, both players received a 2-stroke penalty. They then had to replay with their own balls and recorded double bogeys on that hole in succession.

It was a painful mistake for Kim Ju-hyung. While he was climbing the leaderboard by catching three consecutive birdies, his baffling error on the final hole put the brakes on his upward momentum.

Local attention in the United States also turned to this unusual incident. The U.S. golf specialty outlet Golf.com reported Kim Ju-hyung's and Campbell's mistake, stating, "A penalty was incurred on the PGA Tour due to a rarely seen error."

The outlet explained, "It is an error rarely seen in professional golf and an action that violates the rules of golf. Kim Ju-hyung hit Campbell's ball, and Campbell hit Kim Ju-hyung's ball. Both players faced a disastrous situation."

In particular, Golf.com noted, "Both players were at 5-under-par for the day when they entered that hole. Their overall tournament scores were also both at 9-under-par," pointing out that the mistake occurred while both players were maintaining good momentum.

Golf Channel commentator Brendan de Jong pointed out, "This incident is the responsibility of both players."

He added, "Especially when in a bunker, one must pay very close attention to what they are doing. They must accurately confirm the state of the ball. They must identify which ball is their own."

He then emphasized, "This kind of mistake is truly something that should never be done."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original