Explained: The Sony Open's 'joke' golf rules debacle

Would it be fair to suggest PGA Tour pro Carl Yuan has been pretty fortunate in recent weeks?

He wasn't even supposed to play the Sony Open, given he finished No. 126 in the FedEx Cup standings. 

But Jon Rahm upped sticks and bolted to the LIV Golf League, meaning Yuan (and everyone else) was bumped up. 

Rahm's defection also allowed Canada's Mackenzie Hughes to get into this year's signature events. 

As for Yuan, he took advantage of his fortune by grabbing the 36-hole lead over the weekend. 

He was in contention to win his first ever Tour ever on Sunday, but ultimately came up short. Grayson Murray won a playoff with an epic putt. 

Yuan did post the clubhouse lead at 16-under, but some argued his score was dubious given what transpired on his 72nd hole. 

So what happened?

Yuan's tee shot at the par-5 18th found the fairway bunker on the left side of the hole. 

He had 239 yards to the pin and pulled out his hybrid. It was a loose one and he had yell fore as his ball sailed towards the grandstands. 

The NBC commentary team were initially convinced the ball had sailed out of bounds. 

Yuan dropped near the bleachers and left himself with a 14ft putt. He was putting for birdie. He missed and signed for a 7-under 63. 

Here's where it got interesting as Golf Channel's Todd Lewis later reported Yuan never found his golf ball on the 18th hole. 

Watch:

“Virtual certainty” it went into the hospitality tent. But they never found the ball… pic.twitter.com/FjqFPHLznK

— Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) January 15, 2024

Wait, what?

Said Lewis on the broadcast:

According to the USGA's rules on TIO, Yuan was entitled to have free relief because his ball was 'virtually certain to have come to rest in a TIO'

You can read up on the rule here.

Yuan was able to take relief at the estimated point where the ball crossed the edge of the TIO. 

It was certainly a favourable break and no doubt more would have been made of this had Yuan won. 

"How that player is 'okay' with that call shows the lack of integrity he has," one X user wrote. 

Another added: "He hit his ball a mile out-of-bounds! This is such a joke."

Read more:

• PGA Tour veteran offers staunch defence of Patrick Cantlay and Jay Monahan
• WATCH: PGA Tour pro misses putt from 16 (!) inches at Sony Open
• Report makes truly wild claim about PGA Tour boss and his LIV Golf counterpart
• PGA Tour rookie delivers brutally honest take after MC despite two (!) near aces