Cameron Smith appeared to get on best of the leaderboard in the FedEx Cup playoffs’ opening event on Sunday but was strike with a setback as he acquired set to tee off at the St. Jude Championship.

The PGA Tour penalized the reigning British Open up winner following officials uncovered his ball was nevertheless touching the crimson hazard line when he was having a penalty fall on the par-3 fourth gap through the 3rd spherical on Saturday. Smith was docked two strokes.

Smith signed for a 67 right after the 3rd spherical and was two shots guiding J.J. Spaun. Alternatively, Smith started Sunday 4 pictures guiding the leader.

Click on Here FOR Far more Athletics Protection ON WHD News

Cameron Smith of Australia hits off the sixth tee for the duration of the third round of the St. Jude Championship golf match, Aug. 13, 2022, in Memphis, Tennessee. (WHD Photograph/Mark Humphrey)

Gary Young, the chief referee for the PGA Tour, reported Smith was apprised when officers took a nearer glance at the replay. The regulations allow what a player sees to just take precedence more than a zoomed perspective from television. Smith informed Younger the ball was absolutely touching the line.

The PGA Tour formal seeing the broadcast in the beginning determined it was not enough to increase any issues. The complete golfing ball need to be in play and not touching any element of the line.

"Just knowing the awkwardness of digital camera angles and that he was dropping in a really tight area there at No. 4, the geometry of the complete condition — he’s acquired in essence a sliver he’s dropping the ball in — we felt pretty relaxed at that time that he was common with the rule," Younger claimed.

Cameron Smith of Australia walks off the sixth tee in the course of the third spherical of the St. Jude Championship golfing match, Aug. 13, 2022, in Memphis, Tennessee. (WHD Photograph/Mark Humphrey)

RICKIE FOWLER SPLITS WITH LONGTIME CADDIE: ‘LIKE A Major BROTHER TO ME’

"And that it was these a rapid view of it that we had, at that time we determined it wasn’t truly worth pursuing up on."

Young stated one more official doing the job the match took place to view the rebroadcast Saturday evening and officials made a decision to take a further glimpse.

Smith and officials talked right before the last spherical and he was asked about the fall. Officials said they experienced no alternative but to penalize him.

Cameron Smith of Australia kisses the claret jug trophy after successful the British Open at the Old Class at St. Andrews, Scotland, on July 17, 2022. (WHD Photograph/Peter Morrison)

Click In this article TO GET THE WHD News App

"I imagined it was simply just likely to be a condition the place I questioned Cam the problem and he was going to (say) that he was at ease that his ball was outside the house the penalty area," he claimed.

The contributed to this report.