Qatar Masters Leader Dealt 'Sickening' Lost Ball Blow

Playing the 10th, Matthew Jordan's wayward second shot was eventually found. However, it was outside the three-minute allotted time period

Jordan talks to marshal
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Matt Cradock
By
published

After a controlled level-par front nine in near-30mph winds, Matthew Jordan stood two-shots clear at the top of the leaderboard heading into the back nine. And, after a bullet of a drive at the par-5 10th, he was in prime position to extend that lead further.

However, the 26-year-old pulled his second shot from the fairway, with the ball ricocheting and bouncing around before coming to rest. Seeing it fly into the desert, Jordan decided to not play a provisional, with the ball seemingly not that far off-line.

But, as Jordan and his group made their way to the vicinity of where his ball was, no-one had any idea of where it came to rest. As a result, the three-minute window in which the ball must be found had started, with players, caddies, officials and fans searching furiously to try and find it.

With the three minutes up, the search party couldn't locate the Englishman's golf ball. However, that wasn't the end of the story, with it then being revealed that Jordan's ball had been found, but after the allocated time.

As a result, Jordan was forced to drive back up the fairway in a golf cart to replay his fairway wood. After all the drama, he would go on to make a respectful bogey that dropped him back into a share of the lead with Poland's, Adrian Meronk.

Jordan talks to a marshal

DP World Tour referee, Mark Litton, and Jordan in discussion with a marshal on the 10th hole the during the final round of the Qatar Masters 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

According to Rule 18.2a - When Ball Is Lost - A ball is lost if not found in three minutes after the player or his or her caddie begins searching for it. If a ball is found in that time, but is uncertain whether it is the player's ball then the player:

- Must promptly attempt to identify the ball (Rule 7.2) and is allowed a reasonable time to do so, even if that happens after the three-minute search time has ended.

- This includes a reasonable time to get to the ball if the player is not where the ball is found

If the player does not identify his or her ball in that reasonable time, the ball is lost.

Following Jordan's bogey, he would then produce a run of four straight dropped shots, as he fell down the leaderboard. 

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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