Shaun Norris hit with controversial two-shot penalty as DP World Tour title bid unravels

Shaun Norris’ bid for a third DP World Tour title was overshadowed by a highly controversial two-shot penalty that left golf fans questioning whether the punishment fitted the crime.

Norris, 44, had started the final round of the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland with a two-shot lead, and remained firmly in contention at 9-under par heading into the back nine.

But his challenge was transformed by an incident on the par-4 5th.

As Norris prepared to play his second shot, he was seen kicking away a replaced divot that was sitting beneath his feet (scroll down this page to watch). 

Tournament officials subsequently determined that removing the divot had improved his stance, meaning Norris had breached Rule 8.1 of the Rules of Golf. 

This was the same rule that saw Bryson DeChambeau controversially docked two shots during the second round of The Open last month. 

The resulting two-shot penalty for Norris was not communicated to him until he was making his way from the 9th green to the 10th tee.

Broadcast viewers were then informed of the ruling while Norris was in the 10th fairway, with his par on the fifth effectively changed to a double-bogey six.

The decision immediately sparked debate online, with many fans questioning the severity of the ruling.

Popular X account Monday Q Info wrote: “Really is a wild decision to me. Shaun Norris is being penalized for kicking away a divot that hadn’t been properly replaced. It was clearly sticking up above surface of the ground.”

That sentiment was echoed by plenty of DP World Tour fans, who felt Norris had simply removed an obvious obstruction rather than deliberately improving his lie.

Scroll down to watch what happened...

The penalty dropped Norris from 9-under to 7-under par and left him two shots off the pace at the time. 

To his credit, he responded with an immediate birdie at the par-5 11th, but frustration appeared to remain as he carded another double-bogey six at the 12th.

He recovered a shot at the 14th, but by then had fallen four shots behind and out of contention. 

The controversy proved hugely costly for Norris, who had been chasing a third career DP World Tour victory.

Scotland’s Scott Jamieson went on to win the tournament on home soil.

Jamieson closed with a 67 to finish the week 11-under par and two shots clear of England's Matthew Jordan. 

The 42-year-old captured his second ever DP World Tour title and first since December 2012.

Norris added another double-bogey on the 18th for a round of 76 to finish the week 5-under par in a tie for seventh.