Michael Kim captured his first DP World Tour title with victory at the Open de France – but not without a moment of confusion on golf social media as he made the turn at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche.
At the par-4 10th, Kim, 32, found the rough off the tee but then sent a beautiful approach shot from 68 yards to within a few feet under the hole for birdie.
Kim’s playing partner Marcus Armitage then followed suit five yards closer out of the rough and he collided with the American’s ball.
The Englishman was left with a tap-in birdie, while Kim’s ball was nudged forwards a couple of feet.
But DP World Tour fans were suddenly left perplexed when Sky Sports cameras panned back to Kim for his birdie putt.
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Kim was not putting from the original position, as you can see from the below images.
In the first image, you can see where Kim’s ball originally came to rest before Armitage’s ball struck it.
In the second image, you can then see where Kim ended up sending home his birdie putt.
Kim putting out for birdie on 10
GolfMagic has had it confirmed from a chief referee at the DP World Tour that Kim played exactly by the rules.
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Although the Sky Sports Golf cameras did not show what happened, Kim is understood to have replaced his ball by estimation as per the rules when the original spot is not known.
A DP World Tour spokesperson confirmed to GolfMagic:
“I’ve spoken to this week’s Chief Referee and he explained that although Michael Kim may not have played exactly from the original spot, the ball is clearly not putted from where it came to rest after it was moved by another player’s ball, which means that it was replaced, as per Rule 9.6 – Ball at rest lifted or moved by outside influence. The ball must be replaced and if the spot is not known, it is estimated, which is what happened in this instance.”
Kim tapped in for birdie on the 10th, which marked his fourth birdie of the final round and his third in four holes.
The talented American then went on to birdie 16 and 17 before holing a clutch 33-footer for par on the 18th to capture his first DP World Tour title.
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The win also marked his first title around the world since landing his first PGA Tour title with a runaway eight-stroke victory at the 2018 John Deere Classic.
Kim is now expected to move into the world’s top 50 after winning the Open de France, which would mark a career-best for him in the OWGR.
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