[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by coralpro

The way I understand the rule is that by announcing a provisional is going to be hit is an in case of out of bounds or lost but not in a water hazard allows a choice of play to either ball. Whichever ball is has the next stroke taken becomes the ball in play provided the first ball is not found or is found to be in play. Hitting without announcing provisional for an additional ball is placing that ball as the ball in play and a stoke and distance is acknowledged by doing so. I still would also like to know where the two stroke penalty came from? There had to be more to the story as well. Perhaps he was penalized for moving the ball when it was in play and then placed it back down and played out the hole. Just a guess.

No... the whole point of the rule requiring a provisional to be so declared is so that there is no choice. If the original ball is found in bounds, then the provisional ball is abandoned.... period. The only way that the provisional ball can become the ball in play is if the original ball is found out of bounds or is not found. Even if the original ball is found to be completely unplayable, the provisional ball is still abandoned. The rules never allow for a player to have 2 balls in play at the same time with a choice as to which one to play.