R&A Grants Scheffler Free Drop on 17th at 2026 Open as Lost Ball Sparks Rule Debate

Q: Did a controversial 'lost ball' ruling unfairly give Scottie Scheffler an advantage?

Yes — it gave Scheffler a clear competitive benefit, but not an improper one under the rules in force. At Royal Birkdale, Scheffler’s second shot on the par-5 17th finished behind a grandstand classified as a Temporary Immovable Obstruction. His ball was never found, which normally would mean a lost ball and stroke-and-distance. But The Open had adopted Model Local Rule F-23, allowing free relief when it is “known or virtually certain” the ball came to rest in a TIO, even if the ball is not located. That ruling plainly helped him. Instead of replaying the shot with penalty, Scheffler received a free drop, hit a wedge to about 10 feet and made birdie. In practical terms, the rule turned a potentially damaging mistake into a scoring chance. The dispute is over fairness, not legality. Critics argued that an extremely errant shot should not be rescued when the ball cannot even be found, and several players and commentators said the outcome looked wrong. Supporters of the ruling note that TIOs are temporary man-made structures added for the championship, not part of the course’s intended challenge, which is why relief exists. So the best answer is that Scheffler did receive an advantage, and a significant one, but officials appear to have applied the local rule correctly. Whether it was “unfair” depends on whether one accepts the TIO rule itself; by the rulebook, the ruling was defensible, even if many viewed the result as unsatisfactory.

3 articles · Updated · Heavy.com · Jul 19

Scottie Scheffler got free TIO relief on the par-5 17th after his approach flew behind a grandstand and the original ball was never found, letting him drop, wedge to 10 feet and make birdie.
R&A rules allow relief when a ball is known or virtually certain to be in a Temporary Immovable Obstruction, even without locating it; Scheffler said the shot skipped left and flew over the stand.
The ruling ignited social-media backlash and renewed scrutiny of officiating at Royal Birkdale, coming a day after Bryson DeChambeau's penalty also drew attention.
Scheffler still failed to catch Cameron Young's 9-under clubhouse lead, bogeying the 18th to finish the week at 7 under, so the decision did not alter the winner.