Justin Thomas displayed a virtuous show of sportsmanship in the third round of the RBC Heritage by admitting he accidentally caused his golf ball to move on the second hole. Thomas started the third round with a two-shot lead, but despite rescuing a par, playing partner Si Woo Kim drew level on the par-five hole after starting with two birdies.
The 31-year-old was attempting to move some small rocks around his ball in the waste bunker when he summoned a rules official. Thomas explained that he believed he had caused his ball to move, but there was no close-up footage of the incident, leaving the decision up to him. In a video of the incident, the rules official was heard telling Thomas on his way to the green: “We tried to find footage, but no one has anything.
“So I feel like, hate to say it, you said what you were doing with your actions caused your ball to move.
“You still feel that moving those pebbles so close to the ball caused it to move?”
The American agreed and ultimately accepted a one-shot penalty, which could prove costly with how play is poised ahead of the final round.
Kim went from strength to strength and took the lead with two more birdies on the front nine before adding two more on 13 and 15.
He carded a 66, recording 15-under par after three rounds, which leaves the South Korean one shot clear.
“It was weird. I was moving some rocks, pebbles and the ball kind of looked like it just moved a little,” Thomas explained after the round.
Thomas birdied 18 to finish the third round in 69 shots and is now tied in second with fellow American Andrew Novak.
Maverick McNealy enjoyed a fantastic third round, posting 65 to launch himself into solo fourth at 13-under par.
Tommy Fleetwood starts the final round in joint-fifth alongside 2023 US Open champion on 12-under.
Scottie Scheffler is vying to become the first player to defend the RBC Heritage since Boo Weekley in 2008 but needs a sensational final round to do so.
The world No. 1 is down in T7 with Russell Henley on 11-under par after carding a 68 in the third round.
Thomas will be confident in restoring his lead before the end of play as he seeks his first title since winning his second major at the 2022 US PGA Championship.
