Golf fans have been left furious after JJ Spaun bent the rules in his favour during this weekend’s Players Championship. The American finished joint top with Rory McIlroy as the pair both registered scores of 12 under at the Players Stadium Course in Florida.

The incident occurred during the final round when Spaun was chasing down leader McIlroy. But with his second shot on the ninth hole, Spaun was only able to find a lie in the rough.

However, he would be given a reprieve as the gofer realised his ball was on a sprinkler head, which allows him to move the ball at one club length of relief. The issue arose when Spaun took the relief but intentionally dropped the ball on another sprinkler head that was in close proximity.

Remarkably, as per the laws of the game, he was entitled to another club length, meaning Spaun was allowed to move his ball again, this time onto the fairway. A stark difference from where his original shot had landed in the rough. It worked a treat for Spaun, who went on to birdie the ninth, putting him back to 11 under before eventually finishing up tied with McIlroy to force a play-off.

Understandably, it’s caused plenty of debate online, with social media users unhappy about Spaun’s antics. @JZiskey wrote on X: “They should be no relief rule that allows you to move from the rough into the fairway.”

@_RyRog_ responded: “Yet you can stripe a perfect drive and end up in a divot in the middle of the fairway through no fault of your own…and it’s sacrilege to suggest they should get relief.”

@golflifemetals added: “Wow, shouldn't have sprinklers near the rough anymore. Down the middle of the fairway, and the rough gets from a few deep ones.”

@pgklee said: “Obviously, a low/no integrity person. The rule is there so you don't damage a sprinkler head. It's not there so you can avoid the consequences of a bad shot. Then to intentionally........ Spirit of the game.”

But not everyone was against the move, with @inconvnt_truths saying: “Logic: IF you can leverage the rules to your advantage THEN do it.”

@JimTesorero continued: “Tiger Woods talked about this early in his career. He studied the rules inside and out. And used them to his advantage. He spoke about doing it and said other players that don’t are giving away shots, so it’s more common now.”