Overview
- Scheffler received the ruling on Sunday after his tee shot on the par‑5 17th at Royal Birkdale disappeared near hospitality grandstands and was not found by the group or walking officials.
- With a provisional in play, Scheffler told officials to stop searching and accepted point‑of‑entry relief under the TIO local rule, then hit his approach to about 11 feet and made a birdie.
- The TIO rule gives free relief from temporary man‑made structures and can include line‑of‑sight adjustments when a ball is known or virtually certain to be in the obstruction.
- Fans and commentators immediately criticized the decision as unfair because the ball’s location was not confirmed, and the episode followed other controversial rulings at the tournament.
- The ruling left Scheffler tied for fourth while Ryan Fox won the championship, and the incident has renewed calls for clearer, more consistent application of TIO and lost‑ball standards by the R&A.