Golf fans debate whether Miguel Angel Jimenez "cheated" during shot at US Senior Open

Miguel Angel Jimenez has divided opinion on golf social media over whether he intentionally meant to double hit his third shot on the 2nd hole during the second round of the US Senior Open.

Jimenez, 61, went long with his approach shot on the par-4 2nd and he was left with a fiddly little chip shot for his third. 

The popular Spaniard played a delicate flop shot but then double hit his ball with his follow through. 

Under the updated rules of golf, there is no longer a penalty for a double hit.

Jimenez was therefore able to escape without a penalty and played his fourth shot from where the ball lied on the green.

The USGA posted a clip of the video on X / Twitter, and it's fair to say the incident divided opinion as to whether it was an intentional act.

Scroll below to watch what happened...

Jimenez missed the par save and made bogey.

He went on to card a round of 70 and then followed it up with a 68 on Saturday to move into the top 10. 

Jimenez trails by five shots heading into the final round of the US Senior Open.

Padraig Harrington, Stewart Cink and Mark Hensby lead the way on 8-under par.

Jimenez won his fourth title of the PGA Tour Champions season last week. 

Watch Jimenez's controversial shot below and see what you can think about his double hit: 

"That's not accidental, that's intentional," tweeted one irate golf fan. 

"He clearly sees the ball coming out dead and scoops at it so it doesn't land in the rough. Then he tries to sell it with the confused look on his face. Cheater."

Another commented: "Ngl it looks like he made a second move at the ball to hit it once he saw it was going to go short."

"Anyone who plays the game knows he could have avoided the second hit...THATS ALL IM SAYING," wrote another frustrated fan. 

One golf fan commented: "That’s actually impressive. Good hand eye coordination.

"He knew it was going to be short of the green. He knows the rules. Take advantage as much as you can without a penalty."

Another tweeted: "No doubt in my mind he did that on purpose. It was going to land back in the rough. Rather impressive."

"It's so obvious, we can all see his purpose," commented another. 

"That looked intentional, genius move," tweeted one. 

Not everyone felt it was intentional though.

"No chance he meant that, surely?" wrote one.

"No penalty any more, all good," said another. 

"Great rule change," tweeted one. 

Did Jimenez mean to double hit his ball? 

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