What would golf be without a little drama? Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson took the lead halfway in a remarkable manner at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the first Rolex Series event of 2025, but how he did it, is what golf enthusiasts are talking about. With an incredible eagle on Day 2, Ferguson finished one stroke ahead of Daniel Hillier of New Zealand.

Ferguson made an easy eagle putt after a digressive approach shot miraculously made its way to the green and with a smile, the three-time DP World Tour champion commented, “A wee bit of luck goes a long way.” Critics don’t think it’s luck, calling the shot “ridiculous” and raising the question of whether ability or fate prevailed. 

The Scottish golfer’s shot on the 18th went off course and hit a grandstand structure next to the green. Ferguson was set up for an eagle putt when the ball, by a stroke of luck, bounced off the structure and fell only five feet from the hole.

By making the putt to finish a bogey-free round of seven-under-par 65, he took advantage of this lucky turn and moved up to 12-under, giving him a one-shot advantage at the end of the second day. The shot was fortuitous, as Ferguson freely admitted, saying, “On 18, obviously a little bit of luck there. I felt I would’ve made birdie anyway, but eagle’s just even better.”

Chance is a part of golf, this one, in particular, has raised questions about whether existing rules sufficiently handle situations in which outside structures inadvertently compromise the fairness of the game. Should these fixtures be placed where they have the potential to change a shot’s outcome drastically? Should unintentional interactions with these structures be advantageous to players?

Fans’s negative reactions regarding Ewen Ferguson’s eagle

Seeing the occurrence as a breach of the sport’s competitive integrity, many fans vented their outrage. One person expressed his opinion on X, saying that “professional level cheating is not a great look” and citing Ferguson’s shot as an attempt to cheat to win the title. This thought stems from the belief that he exploited an unintended feature of the course setup—whether deliberately or by chance. “Disgraceful. Should be a penalty,” said another, echoing a similar opinion.

Ferguson was also made fun of by some, who emphasized that sports are inherently dependent on chance. “He got lucky; that’s it. A follow-up +4 tomorrow is in the cards haha,” wrote one fan. If this was truly luck, and not skill, as per this fan, Ferguson might lose his lead in the coming two days. But then again the game of golf is definitely unpredictable.

To avoid future occurrences of this kind, some fans demanded that tournament settings be altered. A worried spectator commented, “Ridiculous… whoever approved a grandstand so close to the green, some rule should be in place and taken to a drop zone… amateur hour!” Another individual wrote, “That should be a bouncy grandstand to ricochet that thing back in the water, not a nice little buffer cushion.” In such fans’ eyes, luck or circumstantial advantages like the proximity of the grandstand dilute the fairness of competition.

“Should be a hard surround of the stand to ensure balls head back toward the lake!” was the humorous suggestion of another enthusiast. It highlights frustration over the course’s design, affecting outcomes, mixing humor with a valid concern about fairness, and challenging the balance between luck and skill.

In your opinion, does chance play a role in sports, or does it benefit the bold? Drop your thoughts in the comment box!