What is the 10 second rule in golf? Here’s why Lee Hodges was penalized at the PGA Championship 2023

On Saturday, Lee Hodges was penalized for taking more than 10 seconds on the 17th hole at the 2023 PGA Championship. Hodges played early at Oak Hills alongside Jordan Spieth, and on the penultimate hole of the third round, Hodges faced a 20-foot putter.

He took the shot, and the ball came to a halt close to the hole before sinking in. Hodges, on the other hand, lingered for more than 10 seconds, earning him a one-stroke penalty.

The 13.1(a) rule in golf permits players to walk to the hole and wait only 10 seconds to see if the ball falls into the hole. And if it didn't sink in and they kept waiting, it counts as one stroke penalty. The rule states:

"If any part of a player’s ball overhangs the lip of the hole: The player is allowed a reasonable time to reach the hole and 10 more seconds to wait to see whether the ball will fall into the hole."

Lee Hodges's ball took more than 30 seasons to fall in and thus his score changed from 4 to 5. The official released a statement, saying:

“During play of the 17th hole, Hodges played his first putt to the edge of the hole and after having walked up to the hole, behind his ball, he then waited more than 10 seconds. The ball then fell into the hole, after the 10-second limit provided for in the Rule. As a result, Hodges received a one-stroke penalty, under Rule 13.3a, and the ball was holed.”

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Lee Hodges's performance at the 2023 PGA Championship

Lee Hodges started the PGA Championship with a birdie on the second hole and then made six bogeys in the opening round to finish with a score of 75. He subsequently improved his game on Friday after making four birdies and four bogeys to wrap up with a score of 70.

In the third round, Lee Hodges sank five bogeys and tied up at 67th position with a score of +10. Hodges finished with Phil Mickelson, Rikuya Hoshino, and Justin Thomas. He is playing 16 strokes behind the leader Brooks Koepka.

The 2023 PGA Championship concluded with three rounds and Brooks Koepka finished with a score of 6-par 66. He finished one stroke ahead of Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners.

Koepka was in sixth position after the second round. On Saturday, he made five birdies and a bogey to wrap up with a score of 66 and topped the leaderboard of the PGA Championship.

The Friday round leaders Viktor Hovland, Corey Conners, and Scottie Scheffler slipped from the top positions. Hovland and Conners tied up in second position while Scheffler finished in fifth. Bryson DeChambeau secured the fourth position while Rory McIlroy finished in seventh place followed by Justin Suh and Michael Block.