Former champion David Duval came within one shot of matching the highest single-hole score at a The Open when he ran up 14 strokes at the par-five seventh during the opening round at Royal Portrush on Thursday.
Duval’s bizarre hole included three lost balls as well as a two-stroke penalty for playing a wrong ball.
After his first two tee shots were lost in Portrush’s punishing rough, his third was located by a marshal, or so Duval thought.
But upon hacking the ball to the green the 2001 Open champion realised it was not his ball after all, which meant he incurred a two-stroke penalty and had to return to play his own ball.
That’s when it all got really complicated.
Best pictures from The Open 2019Show all 27 1 /27Best pictures from The Open 2019
Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: The Open branding is seen on the course during the third round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) Andrew Redington
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 A weather vane during day three of The Open Championship 2019 at Royal Portrush Golf Club. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 20, 2019. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. The Open Championship logo and clear link to The Open website (TheOpen.com) to be included on website publishing. David Davies
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: Francesco Molinari of Italy plays his shot from the fourth tee during the third round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) Andrew Redington
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: A course marshal holds a sign for quiet on the third tee during the third round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) Andrew Redington
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: Yuki Inamori of Japan and his caddie walk on the second hole during the third round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) Andrew Redington
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: The scoreboard is pictured during the third round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) Andrew Redington
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: Tom Lewis of England inspects the pin on the fifth green during the third round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) Francois Nel
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 England's Matthew Wallace putts on the 7th green during day three of The Open Championship 2019 at Royal Portrush Golf Club. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 20, 2019. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. Still image use only. The Open Championship logo and clear link to The Open website (TheOpen.com) to be included on website publishing. David Davies
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reacts on the first hole during the first round of the British Open golf Championships at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland on July 18, 2019. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy searches for his ball at the first hole during the first round of the British Open golf Championships at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland on July 18, 2019. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 18: Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain walks off the 6th tee during the first round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 18, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 18: Sergio Garcia of Spain walks off the 6th tee during the first round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 18, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 6th tee during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Lee Westwood of England kisses his caddie and girlfriend, Helen Storey on the 18th green during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Jon Rahm of Spain looks on during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Jordan Spieth of the United States reacts during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Tommy Fleetwood of England l on the 15th green during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Adam Hadwin of Canada celebrates with Cameron Smith of Australia during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Lee Westwood of England reacts on the 18th hole during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) Stuart Franklin
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Shane Lowry of Ireland chips on to 16th green during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/R&A;/R&A; via Getty Images) Richard Heathcote/R&A;
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 US golfer Jordan Spieth tees off from the 12th tee during the second round of the British Open golf Championships at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland on July 19, 2019. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 US golfer Patrick Reed tees off from the 3rd hole during the second round of the British Open golf Championships at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland on July 19, 2019. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USEGLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images GLYN KIRK
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 Tiger Woods of the United States throws his club in the air con the 5th green during the second round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Friday, July 19, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Peter Morrison
AP
Best pictures from The Open 2019 England's Tommy Fleetwood smiles on the 13th hole during the second round of the British Open golf Championships at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland on July 19, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 US golfer Tiger Woods waves to the crowd as he leaves the 18th hole after the second round of the British Open golf Championships at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland on July 19, 2019. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen plays from the 3rd tee during his second round on day two of the 2015 British Open Golf Championship on The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland, on July 17, 2015. Torrential early rain left its mark on the Old Course at St Andrews as play was suspended for more than three hours and continued to have an effect when play restarted. The delay will mean that the later starters will be unable to complete their second round by day's end. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
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Best pictures from The Open 2019 PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Rory McIlroy waves to the crowds on the 18th green during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/R&A;/R&A; via Getty Images) Charles McQuillan/R&A;
R&A via Getty Images
The 47-year-old American, a former world number one, could not locate that ball from his third tee shot, so he had no choice but to return to the tee and play his ninth shot.
“I’m at fault. I didn’t take a close enough (look),” he said after signing for a 20-over-par 91, the worst score of the day.
“It was fairly unsettling, obviously. I came in here with fairly high hopes.”
The former Open champion was lost in a mire on Thursday
(Getty)
If Duval’s head was spinning at the way he played the hole, it was also a mental battle trying to figure out how many strokes he had taken.
It was reported that Duval had taken 13 or 15 shots, before officials determined the correct number to be 14.
“He played six shots in completing the hole with the fourth ball from the tee,” the R&A said in a statement.
Only Herman Tissie, with a 15 at Troon’s par-three Postage Stamp in 1950, has taken more strokes to negotiate a hole at an Open.
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