GOLF fans believe Rory McIlroy is the rightful US Open champion as Wyndham Clark should have been given a penalty.
Clark beat McIlroy by a single shot to claim his first-ever Major at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday.
Fans accused Wyndham Clark of moving his ballTwitter / @cincycsmith
GettyClark claimed the US Open title by a single shot[/caption]
ReutersRory McIlroy would have won if Clark was penalised[/caption]
But fans have accused the 29-year-old of moving his ball when setting up a shot on the back nine.
As Clark swept past his ball IT appeared to spin but it is not clear whether it moved from its spot.
Some fans were convinced however and questioned why the American was not penalised.
One said: “@USGA How is this not a penalty?”
Another added: “That moved more than a degree!”
A third wrote: “Look at the blades of grass before and then after he grounds the club. They aren’t the same…ball moved as he improved his lie.”
And another commented: “We need to talk about this! If you’re not going to assess the rules then what are the rules for? Clark grounded his club and the ball moved which is a stroke. If he signs that card without that stroke he needs to be disqualified immediately.”
If Clark was judged to have moved the ball he would have received a two-stroke penalty according to Rule 14.7a, which forbids a ball being played from the wrong spot.
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That would have been enough to give McIlroy the win, but instead his long search for a fifth Major continues.
John Rahm once received a two-shot penalty during his win at the Memorial Tournament in 2020.
However Clark was found to not have breached any rules and the USGA decided not to investigate the incident.