Rory McIlroy has been handed a two-shot penalty after being deemed to have improved his lie in the rough on the 12th hole during tournament play. The ruling came following a review of the incident, which occurred when McIlroy's ball came to rest in thick rough.
According to BBC Sport NI senior journalist Matt Gault, the penalty was assessed after officials determined the Northern Irishman had breached the rules governing ball placement and lie improvement. The infraction adds two strokes to McIlroy's score for the hole, potentially affecting his standing in the competition.
The incident highlights the strict enforcement of golf's rules regarding player conduct in the rough, where even minor adjustments to the area around the ball can constitute a violation. McIlroy, a four-time major champion, will need to factor the penalty into his overall tournament strategy moving forward.
