PGA Tour fans divided over Wyndham Clark rules controversy at Arnold Palmer Invitational

PGA Tour fans have been debating whether Wyndham Clark was right to take relief from a pitch mark during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

The controversial moment took place on the par-4 3rd after Clark split the fairway. 

After seeing a close up camera angle of Clark's tee shot, PGA Tour LIVE commentator Craig Perks said: "It looks like it might have gone in someone else's ball mark in the fairway."

Perks added: "Unfortunately from 144 yards, he's going to have to play a completely different shot, put it way it back in the stance and sort of trap the club..."

The initial camera angle of Clark's tee shot made it very difficult to gauge whether or not his ball had landed in his own pitch mark or in someone else's on the fairway. 

Footage then appeared of former US Open champion Clark having stuck down a tee peg behind the pitch mark in the fairway in order to take free relief. 

"Uh huh," said the commentator. 

"Okay so, although didn't it bounce?

"It may have bounced and then come back to rest in its pitch mark...

"There's a tee in the ground, you're taking a drop from an embedded ball in the fairway?"

Scroll below to watch what happened...

Moments later, PGA Tour Director of Rules Rich Pierson was called in to discuss the ruling. 

Only his comments appeared to add further confusion as to what was taking place. 

Pierson revealed Clark's ball had rolled into someone else's pitch mark and not his own.

"Wyndham's ball did not embed, his ball bounced and landed and rolled into someone else's pitch mark," confirmed Pierson. 

PGA Tour commentator Perks then said to Pierson: "So you can still get relief from that obviously then?"

Pierson replied: "I did not see him take relief from that, Craig? He would not be allowed relief from someone else's pitch mark."

Perks said: "Okay, so the lie we're seeing right now from Wyndham was different than one I guess from where his ball came to rest."

Pierson said: "That's correct." 

Some two hours later, the PGA Tour posted an official statement on social media to clear up the confusion. 

"After reviewing ShotLink video of Wyndham Clark’s tee shot on the third hole during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the PGA TOUR Rules Committee determined that the ball returned to its own pitch mark, which entitled Clark to free relief."

PGA Tour fans have been reacting vocally to the incident on X / Twitter. 

Some consider Clark's ball bounced and then rolled back into its pitch mark, while others believe it rolled into another player's pitch mark. 

Clark went on to make par on the 3rd hole and he is very much in contention for a fourth career PGA Tour title. 

Watch what happened here: 

The incident comes after Clark fended off 'cheating' accusations at last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

Keep up to date with live scores from the Arnold Palmer Invitational here.