In a dramatic conclusion to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Spanish professional David Puig experienced a devastating rules violation that transformed potential triumph into costly disappointment. The 24-year-old rising star, paired with eventual champion Patrick Reed on the final hole, committed a critical error in the back bunker of the Majlis Course’s 72nd hole.
During his third shot attempt from the sand trap, Puig inadvertently grounded his club—a direct violation of Rule 12.2b of the Official Rules of Golf. The infraction was detected by tournament officials monitoring broadcast footage and resulted in an immediate two-stroke penalty. This intervention converted what would have been a par-five finish into a double-bogey seven, dramatically altering the tournament’s final standings.
The penalty proved financially substantial, reducing Puig’s earnings by $274,500. Instead of collecting $508,500 for a projected third-place finish, the young Spaniard settled for $234,000 and a three-way tie for seventh position. Despite the setback, Puig demonstrated professional composure upon reviewing the video evidence in the Scorers Area, accepting the ruling without dispute.
This incident occurred during a period of career momentum for Puig, who recently claimed victory at November’s Australian PGA Championship and has been making significant strides on both the LIV Golf and DP World Tours. His world ranking improved from 99th to 94th regardless of the penalty, though the infraction prevented a more substantial leap.
The tournament also highlighted ongoing discussions regarding the Official World Golf Ranking system, as the Dubai event’s field rating of 179.42 contrasted sharply with the PGA Tour’s American Express tournament rating of 379.26, despite featuring top-tier talent including Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.