Two-time PGA Tour winner suffers two-shot penalty for shocking reason at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson

PGA Tour pro Davis Riley called a two-shot penalty on himself after not having turned off the 'slope feature' on his laser rangefinder while playing the par-3 17th hole during the second round of The CJ Cup Byron Nelson. 

Distance-measuring devices (DMDs) are being trialled on the PGA Tour this week in a bid to help speed up pace of play. 

But players are not permitted to use the slope feature, just like in most competitions for golfers around the world. 

A 'slope feature' on a DMD is a function that adjusts the measured distance to account for elevation changes (slopes) on a golf course.

This feature helps golfers better estimate the true distance to their target, especially when the pin is on an uphill or downhill slope. 

Riley, 28, only used the slope feature on his laser rangefinder while playing his tee shot into the par-3 17th.

His tee shot ended up some 11 feet away from the pin, but it was moments later he realised his mistake and so called the two-shot penalty upon himself. 

The two-time PGA Tour winner went on two-putt from there and his par became a double-bogey five. 

It sent him at the time from being inside the cut mark to outside of it. 

But thankfully, Riley would go on to eagle his final hole at the par-5 9th to make the cut on 5-under par. 

A PGA Tour rules official confirmed the two-shot penalty during the early second round coverage at TPC Craig Ranch on Saturday. 

"We've just had an unfortunate incident," said the PGA Tour rules official.

"Davis Riley used his rangefinder, I do not know what brand it is, because the brand that was given out was Vortex and did not have the slope feature on it, 

"And Davis has called a penalty on himself when he used his rangefinder on 17 and the slope feature was on. 

"He spoke with our chief referee Ken Tackett and assessed a two-stroke penalty to himself."

Riley has been praised by golf fans for his honesty in having not turned off the slope feature on his rangefinder. 

Listen to the PGA Tour rules official's comments in full below: 

At the top of the board, Scottie Scheffler is sitting pretty at 18-under par thru 36 holes.

The World No.1 has opened up a commanding six-shot lead with two rounds to play.

Scheffler has fired rounds of 61 and 63 to vault to 18-under par. 

Players are still out on the course completing their second round as a result of a lengthy suspension in play due to lightning on Friday.

Scheffler is looking to capture his first title on the PGA Tour in 2025 and win for just the second time in his home state of Dallas. 

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