Bob MacIntyre

Xander Schauffele’s Olympic golf campaign was interrupted by a bizarre ruling regarding an object behind his ball. During the third round at Kasumigaseki Country Club, Schauffele addressed his ball on the 18th green when he noticed an anomaly.

Upon closer inspection, the American discovered a small piece of debris, possibly a leaf or twig, lodged behind his ball. Rule 24-2b of the Rules of Golf states that in such instances, the player is entitled to lift and clean the ball without penalty. However, a rules official determined that the object was outside the designated relief area and penalized Schauffele one stroke.

The controversial ruling sparked confusion and dissatisfaction, with many observers questioning its fairness. Schauffele was visibly frustrated and the incident seemed to affect his play, as he bogeyed the hole. The setback dropped Schauffele down the leaderboard, but he remains in contention for a medal with the final round scheduled for Sunday.