'He Got a Mulligan': Pro Golfers Furious Over Asian Tour Ruling 

The Asian Tour has just been involved in a rule controversy that has left many professional golfers and spectators in shock. South Korean golfer Hur In-hoi lost his shot at the Maekyung Open title following a controversial mid-round ruling reversal.

The ruling dispute unfolded at Namseoul Country Club, where In-hoi, who won the 2021 championship, made a drive on the seventh hole that seemed to be out of bounds. Choosing to abandon this shot, In-hoi decided to play his provisional ball, but the decision caught the field by surprise.

“It’s f***** b******. He basically got a mulligan,” one anonymous pro stated to ‘Flushing It Golf,’ who posted an update on their X feed.

The original ball was thought to be out of bounds by a forecaddie, but those supporting Hur felt differently about the issue. This resulted in a 30-minute dispute among several rules officials and the Chief Referee.

Using the rarely used procedure by the committee, officials allowed In-hoi to play his provisional ball without any penalty.

Another professional doubted In-hoi’s morality, stating that “he just listened to the officials because it’s in his favor”. The unnamed individual believed that In-hoi agreed only because it suited him.

The anonymous speakers seem to have finally got their way, as the decision did not end up giving Hur an advantage.

The penalty reversal dashes Hur In-hoi’s chances

Initially, the decision allowed In-hoi to sign for a par and make a third-round 69, thus placing him just outside the top ten players and resulting in disappointment from other touring professionals.

The situation was further aggravated by In-hoi’s bogey-less 64 in the last round, making him a clubhouse leader and a prime contender for a playoff.

While In-hoi signed autographs for fans, the rules committee issued a final ruling. It ruled that the original golf ball was out-of-bounds and imposed a two-stroke penalty on Saturday’s scores.

The ruling drew immediate fire from the field, with another player asking, “Obviously, he got a mulligan. How is that possible?”

In effect, this late decision changed In-hoi’s 69 score into a 71, slipping him down to third place and missing the playoff round by two strokes, which led to more clashes with the officials.

Afterwards, In-hoi’s wife made an Instagram post requesting video evidence and asking if the officials were being untruthful.

In the meantime, Song Min-hyuk ended up winning the tournament in a sudden-death playoff, with Cho Min-gyu finishing T2.