What happens if you find your ball after hitting a provisional?

The situation

You hit your drive, suspect it might be lost, play a provisional, and then find the original ball in the rough — still in bounds.

The rule

Under Rule 18.3c, if the original ball is found in bounds and within the 3-minute search time, you must abandon the provisional and play the original ball. However, there is a critical exception: if the provisional has been played from a spot that is at the same distance or closer to the hole than where the original was found, the original ball is then considered lost and you continue with the provisional. The provisional "takes over" once it gets ahead of the original ball.

Real example

You play a provisional from the tee, hit it 220 yards down the fairway, then find your original ball 180 yards from the tee in the rough. The provisional is 40 yards further than the original — so the original ball takes precedence. You must play the original ball and pick up the provisional.

But: if your provisional rolled to 160 yards from the tee (closer to the tee than the 180-yard original), you still have to play the original.

What to do on the course

• If the original ball is found in bounds before you play the provisional past its position: play the original, pick up the provisional
• If the provisional has been played from a spot level with or past the original: the original is lost, play the provisional
• Always identify your ball before playing it — mark it with a pen so there's no confusion

Penalty

No penalty if you correctly abandon the provisional and play the original. 1-stroke penalty (already applied to the provisional) if the original is lost and you continue with the provisional.