Wrong ball penalty exposes major rules error in 2026
Two PGA Tour players were assessed two-stroke penalties after inadvertently playing each other’s golf ball from a greenside bunker on the ninth hole during the second round of the Vidanta World...
Two PGA Tour players were assessed two-stroke penalties after inadvertently playing each other’s golf ball from a greenside bunker on the ninth hole during the second round of the Vidanta World Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta. Tom Kim and Brian Campbell had both begun the hole at five-under for the round and nine-under for the tournament when the incident occurred.
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What happened
Video of the exchange, first reported by Golf Channel’s Damon Hack, shows Kim, Campbell, and a rules official standing near the bunker. Each player had contributed a ball to the situation, and both were penalized two strokes for playing a wrong ball in a stroke-play format. Both finished the par-4 hole with a double bogey after the incident. On-air commentary from Brendon de Jonge noted the shared mistake: “It’s blame on both guys here… 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.”
Rule and penalty explanation
The Tour applied Rule 6.3c(1) of the Rules of Golf to this scenario. The rule states that in stroke play the player receives 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 strokes made with the wrong ball and any additional strokes before the mistake is corrected do not count. If the player does not correct the mistake before starting another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning the scorecard, the player is disqualified.
Impact and context
The Vidanta World Mexico Open is part of the PGA Tour schedule. The incident stands out as rare — two competitors exchanging the wrong ball in the same bunker rather than one player playing a fellow competitor’s ball. The two-stroke penalty can be significant on the leaderboard, turning promising rounds into double bogeys and affecting the day’s scoring for both players.
Reaction and interpretation
Golf Channel’s coverage highlighted the error and the subsequent rule application, underscoring the importance of correctly identifying and playing one’s own ball. The incident served as a reminder of the strict procedures players must follow, particularly in bunkers where visual cues can be deceptive. The official interpretation and on-course discussion helped contextualize how a minor lapse in attention can influence a round’s outcome.
The road ahead
Kim and Campbell will continue to the weekend rounds after accepting the two-stroke penalties. Tournament officials and broadcasters view episodes like this as teaching moments, emphasizing the need for players to clearly mark and verify ball identity, especially in crowded or visually confusing situations. For fans and competitors, the incident illustrates how Rule 6.3c(1) operates in real time and the importance of promptly correcting a wrong-ball play to avoid disqualification.
Source: Original report
