Mud Balls Cause Controversy at 2025 PGA Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mud balls became a significant concern during the first round of the 2025 PGA Championship on Thursday, affecting the performance of several top players.

As rainy conditions left the course soft, mud accumulated on golf balls, leading to unexpected outcomes on the fairway. Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler, both playing in the early wave, expressed their frustrations over how mud balls hampered their scores.

On the 16th hole, Scheffler’s approach shot resulted in a double bogey, which he attributed to a mud ball. He argued that the course’s conditions warranted a decision to play preferred lies, allowing players to lift, clean, and place their balls in the fairway without penalty.

“I understand how a golf purist would be, oh, play it as it lies,” Scheffler said. “But I don’t think they understand what it’s like literally working your entire life to learn how to hit a golf ball.”

Schauffele echoed Scheffler’s sentiments, mentioning that he too faced a disadvantage from a mud ball on the same hole. “It’s just unfortunate to be hitting good shots and to pay them off that way,” he said, noting that he was not the only player feeling this way.

In response to mounting criticism, the PGA of America released a statement on Wednesday evening, declaring the decision to play the ball down. They asserted that the course was in excellent condition, drying out quickly, and additional maintenance would occur to prepare for the tournament.

However, as the day progressed, it became evident that mud balls were increasingly problematic. ESPN broadcasters Curtis Strange and Scott Van Pelt discussed the extreme conditions. Van Pelt remarked on the softness of the course, likening it to a sponge that had soaked up a spill but had not been wrung out.

“How do you react to the idea that you really shouldn’t be punished if you hit it square in the fairway and there’s a big old blob of mud on the ball?” Van Pelt asked.

Strange responded that a reconsideration of the rules for the day could have been appropriate. “From a player’s standpoint, it’s completely aggravating when you lose control of the golf ball in the air,” he said.

With the tournament still in its early stages, Schauffele warned that the issue of mud balls might escalate as the dry conditions continue. “The mud balls are going to get worse,” he predicted. “It’s a bit of a crapshoot.”