Akshay Bhatia's Hero Indian Open ends in MC after first-round rules blunder

Akshay Bhatia's Hero Indian Open ends in MC after first-round rules blunder Getty Images Akshay Bhatia quickly found out how brutal DLF Country Club is this week’s Hero Indian Open . The Arnold Palmer Invitational winner arrived in Delhi as the betting favorite, but his stay was short-lived. Truth be told, it was a nightmare for Bhatia from the opening swing.

Starting on par-4 10th hole, Bhatia ripped his drive left and out of bounds, leading to a double-bogey six. He birdied No. 11 but then dropped shots on 13 and 14 before his DLF horror show reached its peak on the par-5 15th hole.

After playing his second shot on the par 5, Bhatia realized he had just hit the wrong ball. After making the swing, Bhatia found his actual ball nearby, notified a rules official and continued to play the hole with the proper ball. That meant a two-shot penalty on the hole, and Bhatia ultimately walked off with a triple-bogey 8.

While that breach of Rule 6. 3c was costly, it could have sent Bhatia home after just a few holes. Per the rule, if the player who plays the wrong ball does not correct the mistake by continuing to play the hole with the right ball before making a stroke to begin another hole, then they are disqualified.