Noh handed rare two-shot penalty

SEUNG-YUL NOH was handed one of the rarest two-shot penalties ever seen on the PGA Tour during the second round of The Barclays today.

The 23-year-old South Korean hit his tee shot so far right on the par-4 11th that it landed on the putting surface of the adjacent hole, the third. After waiting for the group on that hole  to putt out, Noh hit his next shot from the green.

Under USGA Rule 25-3, if a player's ball is on a wrong putting green, he must take relief and drop within one club length not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must also not be in a hazard or on a putting green.

According to the PGA Tour, Noh said he was unaware of the rule and never called for an official but added that one was 20 or 30 yards away watching the events unfold.

After Noh hit his second shot official Brad Fabel, who couldn't tell from his position if Noh was on the green, informed him of the penalty once he realized Noh had indeed played a shot from the wrong putting surface. Instead of a bogey, Noh was given a 7 on the hole. He went on to shoot a 1-over 72 and is 2 under entering the weekend at Ridgewood.

"I've been out here 33 years," said Vice President of Rules and Competition Slugger White. "We have never seen this happen."

After Noh hit his shot, Noh's caddie retrieved the divot and tried to replace it but officials had to put a hole plug in the spot where Noh hit from.