Adam Scott golf ball blunder at Cadillac Championship reviewed under Rule 6.3c(1)

Adam Scott endured a frustrating start to his week at the Cadillac Championship after being handed a two-stroke penalty for playing the wrong golf ball during his opening round at the Trump National Doral Blue Monster Course.

The 45-year-old Australian, a former Masters champion, began steadily on Thursday and briefly looked in control of his round. 

Scott made an encouraging start with two birdies in his opening five holes, showing signs of the form that once made him one of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour. 

However, the momentum shifted sharply at the par-5 eighth hole. 

After missing the fairway, Scott played his second shot from the left rough, only to later realise he had struck the wrong golf ball.

Under Rule 6.3c(1) of the Rules of Golf, a player is not permitted to make a stroke at a wrong ball. 

A “wrong ball” is defined as any ball other than the player’s ball in play, a provisional ball, or a second ball played in stroke play. 

The penalty for this infringement is the general penalty — two strokes in stroke play — and the player is required to correct the mistake by returning to play the original ball from its original spot.

Importantly, any strokes made with the wrong ball do not count toward the player’s score. 

If the error is not corrected before teeing off on the next hole, the player is disqualified. In match play, the consequences are even harsher, with the first player to play the wrong ball automatically losing the hole.

Scott was able to locate his original ball and continue the hole correctly, but the damage had already been done. 

After a two-shot penalty was applied, he completed the eighth hole in seven strokes, recording a double bogey that dropped him to two-over par and out of early contention.

Watch what happened here: 

The setback was particularly painful given Scott’s strong record at the venue. 

He won at Doral in 2016, the last time the PGA Tour visited the famous Blue Monster layout, and returned this week as one of the most experienced players in the field.

Scott is one of around 18 players in the 72-man field who have previously competed at Trump National Doral.

He is one of only two former winners in the lineup alongside Justin Rose, who captured the title in 2012.

Scott fell to a four-over 76 in the first round, one of the worst scores of the day, while Rose fared two shots better with a two-over 74.

Rose is using brand new McLaren Golf irons this week after becoming the brand's first ambassador on the PGA Tour. 

At the top of the first-round leaderboard, Players champion Cameron Young leads the way after firing an eight-under 64.

That score becomes a new course record since the Cadillac Championship is a brand new tournament on the PGA Tour.

The round of 64 also marks the lowest of Young's 2026 season, and it's also the lowest first round of his PGA Tour career. 

"It was just a really good day," said world number four Young.

"I played nicely but it was one of those days where the scoring was just on my side." 

Young leads by one shot as it stands after Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley also raced out the gates with rounds of 65. 

World number one Scottie Scheffler is playing alongside Young for the opening two rounds, but he could not keep pace on day one with a 71. 

He did get to three-under par in the early stages of the first round but he slipped back with sloppy bogeys on 10 and 11. 

The Cadillac Championship features a no-cut format and a $20 million purse, with $3.6 million awarded to the winner.

Check out all of the latest scores here.