Cameron Davis and Will Zalatoris Face Penalty at Sentry

Cameron Davis and Will Zalatoris lost significant prize money due to a costly mistake during the final round of The Sentry tournament in Hawaii. The two were playing partners and unintentionally hit each other’s ball on their third shots on the par-five 15th hole. This error resulted in a two-shot penalty for both players. After realizing their mistake as they reached the green, Davis and Zalatoris corrected the error by returning to the spot of their third shot.

However, this required them to play their fifth shots instead of their third, as per the Rules of Golf which impacted their scores and subsequent prize money. Cameron Davis, who finished the event at 22 under par, earned $410,000 (£328,000) in prize money. Without the two-shot penalty, he would have earned $715,625 (£572,000). Zalatoris, who finished at 19 under, earned $163,333 (£131,000) but his final payout would have been $283,200 (£226,000) if he had been two strokes better off.

The mistake cost both golfers, but they avoided disqualification by correcting the error. If they had continued without making the correction, the tournament would have disqualified them. The event, held at the Plantation Course in Hawaii saw Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama claim victory. This incident underscores the importance of adhering to the Rules of Golf. Even in high-pressure situations, mistakes can cost players not only in scores but also in significant amounts of prize money.