Wyndham Clark blasts cheating (!) accusations at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Wyndham Clark has launched a robust defence after he was accused by some fans of playing fast and loose with the rules. 

Clark came under the spotlight during the third round of the signature Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour. 

The moment that caught golf fans' attention centred around Clark's actions as he stood over his second stroke on the par-4 18th hole at Bay Hill. 

Related: Clark denies cheating claims then admits he would like to see relegation on PGA Tour

Clark was tied for the lead with Scottie Scheffler on 9-under at the time and his golf ball was in the deep rough. 

As you'd expect, Clark wanted to try and judge the lie by placing his golf club behind the ball. 

Except some fans believed his golf ball moved a tad. 

Clark denied as such, later telling reporters he did not believe the ball moved, adding: "I did not try to cheat." 

He told Golf Channel: "I'm not cheating or anything like that or trying to improve my lie.

"Obviously, they zoom in, and it makes it look worse… We all talked about it.

"Scottie [and] the rules official didn't think it moved. So, fortunately that [penalty] didn't happen."

Tournament officials put the moment under review and, per ESPN's Espen Blaker, ultimately cleared the 2023 U.S. Open champion of any wrongdoing, 

Clark went on to make a bogey five on the hole after missing from 11 feet and five inches to save par. 

It left him on 8-under for the championship and one behind Scheffler heading into the final round. 

Watch the moment here:

I’m sorry. But that ball was moved. @Wyndham_Clark pic.twitter.com/zqR7UeHzRk

— Golf-Ski-Ride (@JamesDeVito15) March 9, 2024

What is your verdict of this? Did the ball move? 

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