Rory McIlroy on Saturday became the latest star to get into a rules controversy at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the world number seven docked two shots for taking an incorrect drop.
McIlroy finished his third round with a bogey-free 68, but that turned into a 70 after a video and on-spot review.
He was found in breach of Rule 25-1 for not taking a full relief from a spectator’s crossing on the second hole of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Last year, Tiger Woods was penalised two shots for taking a wrong drop in the same tournament, thus missing the cut by one, and in 2011, Padraig Harrington was disqualified for moving the ball.
McIlroy, who would have finished one shot behind the leader Craig Lee, finished on nine-under par 207.
Lee shot a 69 for 12-under 204.
Two shots behind were Phil Mickelson, who stormed into contention with a stunning round of nine-under par 63, and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, playing his first season as a full member of the European Tour, who shot a bogey-free 66.
McIlroy later explained: “I hit my second shot on the second hole just into the left rough, but it was in the spectator crosswalk, so I took a drop, which obviously you’re allowed to do out of it.
“I didn’t notice it but my left foot was still on the white line as I played the shot and need to take full relief. I actually dropped it in a really bad lie, so actually had I known, I would have taken a better drop.
“I guess I was just so much into the shot that I didn’t even realise.”
Dave Renwick, the caddie of his playing partner Ricardo Gonzalez, noticed it and asked McIlroy on the 18th hole not to sign his card and asked for clarification.
Mickelson, who could not make a birdie in his first 21 holes in the tournament, made nine birdies and an eagle Saturday for a 63, just one shot short of Henrik Stenson’s course record of 62.
“I got a little tired those last four or five holes, and I could tell that it was early in the season and I wasn’t quite as sharp as I was early on. So that’s something that I’ll be able to work on,” the American said.
“I made a few lazy swings in the end, but I hit a lot of good shots, the irons felt pretty good, and earlier in the day I was putting the ball in play and it felt good.”
Lee, who made two bogeys in his 69, is looking for his first win on the European Tour, said: “You can tell from the leaderboard that there are a lot of good players starting to make a charge; so I’m delighted to still be the one in the lead.”