Max Greyserman Docked a Stroke for Ball Movement at Biltmore

Max Greyserman was assessed a one-stroke penalty during the final round of the Biltmore Championship at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove after a rules official determined he caused his ball to move at address on the par-4 ninth hole.

What happened on the ninth hole?

Greyserman was preparing his second shot from the fairway when, as he set up and drew his club back, the ball shifted, a movement confirmed by television footage. Following a lengthy conversation with the on-course official, he was ruled to have caused a ball at rest to move and was assessed the penalty stroke.

The bogey that followed was his first of the day. It came while he sat two shots behind a share of the lead held by Ricky Castillo, Jacob Bridgeman and Neal Shipley. Greyserman answered immediately, making his fourth birdie of the round at the 10th to get back to 19 under. Bogeys at 11 and 12 then slowed his charge toward a maiden PGA Tour title.

It was not the first time in the week that a ball had moved on Greyserman near address. During the third round at the 12th hole, his ball also shifted slightly after he set up to it, but officials did not rule him responsible on that occasion.

The penalty echoed a similar call eight days earlier at the Amgen Irish Open, where Haotong Li was penalized a stroke under Rule 9.4b during the third round after also being deemed to have caused his ball at rest to move.