Overview
- On the final day at Royal Birkdale, Scottie Scheffler’s tee shot on the par‑5 17th could not be found and he played a provisional before officials allowed him point‑of‑entry TIO relief.
- Scheffler said in a postround press conference that he instructed officials to stop searching and dropped under the TIO ruling, then hit close and made a birdie that kept him briefly in contention.
- The R&A’s 'virtual certainty' provision permits relief when it is known or virtually certain a ball entered a temporary structure such as a grandstand or hospitality tent, even if the ball is not recovered.
- Fans, players and commentators reacted strongly, citing uneven application of rules after other contested calls at the championship—most notably Bryson DeChambeau’s earlier two‑stroke penalty—and questioning officiating consistency.
- Coverage says the ruling stands as applied at the event with no reversal reported and that the episode has renewed calls for clearer guidance on TIO use and how on‑course officials judge 'virtual certainty'; Ryan Fox won the tournament and Scheffler finished tied for fourth.