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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Golf rules are complicated. But what transpired at The Amundi Evian Championship was wrongfully amusing. In a moment of disbelief, American golfer Nelly Korda made a shot that was picked up by a fan in the final round of the Championship. The lady in question calmly picked up the golf ball from where it rested and proceeded to show it to others. It was only after someone from the crowd mentioned it did she realise it wasn’t such a good idea after all!

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What do the rules say during these types of incidents?

For the unversed, golf balls are not supposed to be picked up until the ball lands in the hole. Special considerations are given in exceptional circumstances, but any deliberate movement for a better angle is penalized with an extra stroke.

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The only time golf balls can be positioned deliberately without causing a penalty is when it hinders the opposition player’s ability to hit their own ball. Natural forces like water and wind also play a part, and in these situations, the shot is taken from the last resting position of the ball.

via Reuters

Korda was tied joint-second with Korean golfer Sei Young Kim at the time of the incident. The rules state that in such an unusual scenario, the ball must be placed at a ‘best estimate’ of where it was picked up. As the move was unintentional from the golfer’s point of view, she didn’t receive a penalty for the incident.

The shot from Nelly Korda gets reactions from social media

Indeed, fans reacted hilariously over the clip on social media. While some found it funny, others questioned the woman’s logic behind the action, which caused the whole drama. Here are some of the top reactions.

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At the time of writing, Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson was in pole position, followed by Sophia Schubert in second place. Meanwhile, Nelly Korda slipped to T8 with a cumulative score of 271 during the final round. The Amundi Evian Championship is being played at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France.

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