UBS Hong Kong Open leader Michael Campbell has avoided a two-stroke penalty following a bizarre incident on the 10th tee during his third round.
Campbell, who is looking to end a seven-year winless drought, had teed his ball up but in taking a couple of practice swings he accidently knocked the ball off the tee and forward some 10 feet to the left of the tee.
The New Zealander moved forward to pick-up his ball before replacing it on the tee.
However fearing his actions may have incurred a penalty under the Rules of Golf, Campbell called for a ruling.
Campbell proceeded to pick up his ball and in front of the European Tour’s Chief Referee, John Paramour who was sitting in a buggy near the tee.
Campbell stood there with his right out-stretched and with Paramour responding: “Did you just to what I thought you did?”
However Campbell admitted he was aware of the rule that, in fact, did not warrant a penalty.
“I’ve never ever done that before in 38 years of playing golf in knocking the ball off the tee in taking a practice swing,” said Campbell.
“It was not an intentional swing but I knew the rules and when JP (Paramour) came walking up to me with a huge smile on his face I knew I was okay.”
Paramour discussed the situation with the 43-year old and ruled that there had been no breach of the rules as Campbell had not addressed the ball.
In fact, Paramour brought to notice the same incident that had happened to a tour player so years back in a European Open.
But had Campbell been standing over the ball at address then his actions in moving forward to pick up his ball and replace it on the tee would have incurred a two-stroke penalty.
Campbell put the drama behind him in managing to par the hole and maintain a two-shot lead at 11-under par in the $2m event.
Strangely, Campbell had sought a ruling a hole earlier when his ball came to rest near a sprinkler head but while seeking relief he was denied by another rules official.
Campbell had begun the third round leading by a shot on nine under par as the former US Open champion looks to win for a first time since capturing the 2005 HSBC World Match-Play Championship.
He began his third round with a birdie and while dropping a shot at the sixth, Campbell bounced back with a birdie at the next.
The biggest mover on day three was 19-year old Italian Matteo Manassero with the winner of last week’s Barclays Singapore Open moving to a then share of second place on nine under par with a blistering 64.
