South Africa’s Shaun Norris had to go home disappointed from the Open Championship last month after his T53 finish. So, weeks later, when he arrived at Trump International Golf Links for the Nexo Championship, he had one goal in mind: win. And for the first 54 holes through Saturday, the 44-year-old was doing exactly that, until everything went wrong and he was handed a two-stroke penalty. 

“Shaun Norris is handed a two-shot penalty ⚠️,” DP World reported on X.
“Rule 8.1 – Players Actions That Improve Conditions Affecting the Stroke while preparing to play his approach shot from the fairway on Hole 5 in the final round of the Nexo Championship.”

That’s awfully unfortunate for the South African. He began the final round in the lead, sitting at 9-under par, two shots ahead of Matthew Jordan after a brilliant third round that included an albatross. But when the par-4 fifth hole arrived, Norris started preparing to hit his approach shot from the fairway. And he kicked away a replaced divot with his right foot.

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This didn’t sit well with the officials, who determined that removing the divot improved the conditions affecting his stance, which violates Rule 8.1a of the Rules of Golf. Norris, of course, wasn’t informed immediately. He completed what he believed was a par but was told about the infraction after completing the ninth hole.

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This meant the two-stroke penalty effectively changed his par on No. 5 into a double bogey, dropping him from 9-under to 7-under. It left him two shots behind Scott Jamieson and in a tie for third as he began the back nine. While there has been some criticism of the decision, Norris’ fate appears to be sealed. 

Norris ultimately finished outside the top five at the Nexo Championship. The South African closed with a 4-over 76 to finish at 5-under par, six shots behind champion Scott Jamieson. It marked a disappointing end after Norris began the final round with a two-shot lead, following a third-round 66 that included an albatross.

He won the Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour, where Norris finished 24-under-par to claim a five-stroke victory. 

Regardless, Norris had witnessed something similar unfold with another player last month. Bryson DeChambeau received a controversial two-stroke penalty at the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. This came after officials ruled that he had inadvertently improved the area of his intended backswing in thick fescue on the fifth hole during his second round.

In any case, this was the first two-stroke penalty Shaun Norris has ever received in his career. However, from the looks of things, it appears the penalty came at the worst time possible.