Shaun Norris two-shot penalty derails bid at Nexo Championship

By Staff Writer

August 24, 2026

2 min read

Key takeaways

Shaun Norris was penalized two shots on the 5th hole of the final round of the 2026 Nexo Championship for kicking away a replaced divot before his approach shot.
The penalty came under Rule 8.1a, which bars removing or pressing down divots already replaced in the ground.
Norris was tied for the lead at 9 under through nine holes before the ruling dropped him to 7 under.
He closed with a 76 to finish 5 under, six shots behind winner Scott Jamieson at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland.
The penalty came a day after Norris made an albatross at the par-5 4th to reach the top of the leaderboard.

Shaun Norris' bid for a third DP World Tour title unraveled on the 5th hole of Sunday's final round at the Nexo Championship, where a two-shot penalty for moving a divot turned an apparent par into a double bogey.

What happened on the 5th hole?

As Norris set up for his approach shot, he felt something under his right foot, looked down and kicked away a divot that had already been replaced in the fairway. He went on to make what he thought was a par. Officials determined the divot had been fully repaired before he moved it, a violation of Rule 8.1a, which prohibits removing or pressing down turf already put back in place because it improves the conditions affecting a stroke.

Norris was informed of the ruling at the turn. His score for the hole changed from par to double bogey, dropping him from a share of the lead at 9 under to 7 under. The call drew criticism online from fans who argued the divot was still sitting above the surface.

How did the rest of his round go?

Norris birdied the 11th to get back to 8 under before a double bogey at the 12th pushed him to 6 under. He signed for a final-round 76 to finish at 5 under, six shots behind champion Scott Jamieson. The penalty was a jarring turn for a player who, one day earlier, had made an albatross at the par-5 4th to seize the tournament lead.

What does this mean for everyday golfers?

Rule 8.1a applies at every level of the game, not just on tour. A golfer who kicks aside a divot or presses down a spike mark before a stroke risks the same two-shot penalty under the Rules of Golf used at public and private courses alike.