[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by ureout

there is a reason why... go back to 2019 and watch this bunker fiasco when he swept sand from behind the ball with a few little waggles behind the ball.... really a pro golfer isn't going to realize that he grounded his club... he got a 2 stroke penalty after cheating on that .... PGA TOUR - Patrick Reed receives a two-stroke penalty at the Hero World Challenge | Facebook

if he was going to ask for a ruling why didn't he do it before he twirled his finger in the deep grass for a while and then lifted the ball and moved it 3 ft. ... then he asked for an official??... why?? he then went back and AGAIN stuck his finger down where the supposed depression was .. for what reason??? also I find it hard to believe that a ball that lands and then bounces about 1ft in the air and lands again could become inbedded

It's possible for a ball to hit the ground, create a pitch mark, bounce a foot into the air and end up in that same pitch mark.

The thing is that from where Reed was he couldn't see the ball bounce and a spectator told him that it didn't.

A player does not have to call an official over before taking relief but it is always a wise thing to do. Reed has had his share of controversy in the past and would be well advise to consult a rules official on future rules situations.