Former US Open champion cleared of any wrongdoing over controversial Arnold Palmer Invitational moment

Wyndham Clark has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the PGA Tour following his free drop during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The 2023 US Open champion took free relief following his tee shot on the third hole after tournament officials ruled that his ball landed in its own pitch park.

Had it rolled into another divot, Clark could only have taken a drop under penalty, but instead he was allowed a free drop.

Clark was leading the tournament at the time when the controversy struck, leading to mass confusion.

Footage of Clark's tee shot made it very difficult to gauge whether or not his ball had landed in his own pitch mark or in someone else's on the fairway. 

But after review, the PGA Tour cleared him of any wrongdoing.

In a statement, the PGA Tour’s rules committee said: “After reviewing ShotLink video of Wyndham Clark’s tee shot on the 3rd hole during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the PGA tour rules committee determined that the ball returned to its own pitch mark, which entitled Clark to free relief.”

Reflecting on the incident, Clark said: "I didn’t know there was any confusion, obviously when I’m playing.

"We never saw it bounce. Then we get up there and it’s in a plugged lie.

"My ball was covered with mud. So we took relief and didn’t think anything of it.”

The PGA's confirmation came after PGA Tour Director of Rules Rich Pierson was called to discuss the ruling.

"Wyndham's ball did not embed, his ball bounced and landed and rolled into someone else's pitch mark," confirmed Pierson to PGA commentator Craig Perks.

Perks then said to Pierson: "So you can still get relief from that obviously then?"

Pierson replied: "I did not see him take relief from that, Craig? He would not be allowed relief from someone else's pitch mark."

Perks then stated: "Okay, so the lie we're seeing right now from Wyndham was different than one I guess from where his ball came to rest."

To which Pierson said: "That's correct."

As it stands, it's Shane Lowry that leads in the PGA Tour event following his five-under-par second round.

He sits two strokes above Clark at the top of the leaderboard after the American managed a one-under-par round.