Rules question
Masters 2025: Recent winner hit with one-stroke penalty after curious rules issue at Augusta
Harry How
AUGUSTA, Ga. — We have our first real rules drama of the 2025 Masters, and it involves fan favorite Min Woo Lee.
At the par-5 13th, the recent Houston Open winner hit a 294-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, which left him with 248 yards to the pin. The long-hitting Lee pulled out a long iron to go for the green, addressed his ball and promptly picked his club back up. His ball had made a full rotation toward him.
"Oh, that ball just moved," Lee could be heard saying to his caddie Bo Martin on the Masters.com Amen Corner feed. Martin immediately called for a referee.
A rules official arrived on scene and Lee began pleading his case. "I was just about to place [my club] down and the ball moved," Lee told the official. "I mean, it was like so quick. It happened so quick. I was just about to do that [address the ball] and then I picked up my club."
In the video, you can see Lee address the ball for two to three seconds. He then noticed the ball moving and lifted his club up right away.
Lee and the official then made their way toward his playing partner Harris English and the two caddies in the group.
"If you believe he didn't cause the ball to move, that's fine," the official said to the group. They all agreed Lee hadn't. Lee and the official went back to his ball and the official explained that he could proceed without penalty.
The Aussie went on to make what he thought was a par, then stumbled home to what he thought was a four-over 76. After the round, he was informed that the video evidence determined his actions had caused the ball to move and he was being hit with a one-stroke penalty:
Tournament officials released this statement: Lee's score on 13th was changed to a bogey six and his overall score to a five-over 77. After starting the day at one under for the tournament, Lee is now four over, tied for 48th.
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