Eddie Pepperell was disqualified from the Turkish Airlines Open on the 13th hole of his third round after running out of golf balls.
The 28-year-old from Oxfordshire started his round on the 10th tee, endured a nightmare on the fourth hole when he found the water by the green with his approach shot. He then proceeded to hit four or five more balls into the same hazard before running out of balls and walking off the course.
Pepperell, who was two-over par for his round at the time, and level par for the tournament, was subsequently disqualified for failing to complete the hole, and could now face punishment in the shape of a fine from the European Tour.
Playing partner Martin Kaymer likened Pepperell’s efforts to something out of the film Tin Cup. He said: “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve only watched something like it on television, in Tin Cup. This is the first time I have seen it live. Eddie hit his shots to the green then came over to tell us he had run out of balls. Then he walked off. He did not ask if he could borrow one from me or George [Coetzee). It did not look like he wanted to play. He used his wedge to putt with on the third hole, so there was a lot happening.”
Pepperell started the season ranked 35th in the world, but has now slipped down to 49th. He has secured four top-10 finishes this year, including a tied third in The Players Championship, and was runner-up at the British Masters, where he was the defending champion.