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Rules question · Rule 18.3c · Medium

Found my original ball: can I still play the provisional?

You played a provisional ball from the tee and it sits nicely on the fairway. After two minutes of searching you find your original ball in deep rough. May you continue with the provisional ball?

Answer

No, you must continue with the original ball

If you find your original ball within the three-minute search time, and not in a penalty area, the provisional ball is out of play. You play the original ball as it lies or treat it as unplayable. If you keep playing the provisional ball anyway, it is a wrong ball and you get two penalty strokes.

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