Quote:
Originally Posted by Fourputt
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.
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Correct, and even if you go to look for your ball and find out it's really bad in there, but your provisional is in position A, you can decide not to look for your ball, but your opponent is well within his rights to continue looking. It's only lost once either five minutes is up or you have played a shot not as a provisional.
There's an interesting aside to this, which is if you're playing the last hole, which is a par three say, and hit your ball in the woods. If you then hit a provisional and hole it out for a three with that ball, then you can't play your next shot to make the original lost, you can't declare your ball lost, so in theory there is nothing to stop your opponent from looking for the full five minutes for your ball, in the hope of finding it where you can't play it, or at least can't make three. There is, I understand, a provision within the decisions for this point that says if you pick your ball out of the hole before your opponent finds your ball, then the hole is deemed completed in three. So if that ever happens to you and your opponent is the sort who might go and look, it's time to run. Have fun...
