PGA Tour stars hit with penalties after bizarre wrong golf ball blunder at Mexico Open

Tom Kim and defending champion Brian Campbell endured an extraordinary rules mishap at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open after both players played the wrong golf ball from the same bunker during Friday's second round.

The bizarre incident occurred on the 18th hole, where the two PGA Tour stars, playing together for a second consecutive day, found themselves in the same greenside bunker.

However, in a remarkable coincidence, both proceeded to play the wrong ball, resulting in two-stroke penalties under the Rules of Golf.

It was a particularly frustrating way to finish their rounds, with both players recording a six at the par-5 18th.

Both players ended up carding rounds of 3-under 68 to move to 7-under par, seven shots behind runaway 36-hole leader Andrew Novak. 

Despite the unusual blunder, neither player has suffered a tournament-ending setback, with both comfortably making the cut and remaining within reach of the leaders.

The halfway cut came at 4-under par. 

According to the Rules of Golf, playing a wrong ball in stroke play results in a two-stroke penalty, with the player required to correct the mistake by playing their own ball before starting the next hole.

Rule 6.3c(1) specifically outlines the penalty and the requirement to correct the error.

The incident is all the more remarkable given the circumstances surrounding both players' returns to competitive action.

Campbell is playing for the first time since the Wyndham Championship in August, having endured a difficult run of form that saw him miss nine cuts in an 11-tournament stretch.

The American is back in Mexico as defending champion, having won the tournament last year, but will need a strong weekend if he is to mount a serious title defence.

Kim, meanwhile, is making his first appearance since winning gold at the Asian Games earlier this month. 

The South Korean's Asian Games victory was particularly significant as it exempted him from compulsory military service in his homeland.

Just days before that, Kim finished top points scorer for the week with four points from a possible five at the Presidents Cup, albeit the Internationals lost 17-13 to USA. 

Kim and Campbell face Saturday rematch

Interestingly, the two players will be reunited for Saturday's third round, with Harry Hall completing their group.

They are scheduled to tee off at 10:12am local time (CST) from the first tee, giving them another opportunity to put Friday's bizarre episode behind them.

Both players are currently tied for 26th at 7-under par, seven shots behind tournament leader Novak.

Novak produced one of the performances of the week on Friday, firing a sensational 10-under-par 61 to move to 14-under par overall and establish a three-shot advantage.

• Mexico Open R3 Tee Times

The American will headline Saturday's action alongside Matthieu Pavon and amateur Kihei Akina, who are all scheduled to tee off at 11:51am.

Five players are tied for second on 11-under par, including Ben Griffin, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Kensei Hirata, Pavon and Akina.

Novak won his first and only PGA Tour title to date alongside Griffin at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

While now unlikely out of contention at the Mexico Open, Kim and Campbell will undoubtedly be keen to avoid another rules-related drama when they return to the course for Saturday's third round. 

For two professionals to make the same mistake from the same bunker on the same hole is quite something.