Hyo Joo Kim's chip strikes marker in bizarre LOTTE moment
The South Korean two-time winner this season saw a chip shot bounce off a playing partner's ball marker during the second round, but still missed the cut by a single stroke.
Hyo Joo Kim was involved in an unusual rules moment during the second round of the LOTTE Championship, when her chip shot from just off the green struck a playing partner's ball marker before settling close to the flag.
According to Golf Monthly, the ball was tracking well before it landed directly on the coin, sending it bouncing into the air and rolling roughly 10 feet before coming to rest.
Kim's reaction summed up the strangeness of the moment. She dropped to her knees laughing, visibly struggling to process what had just happened on the green.
Under Rule 13.1d, there is no penalty when a ball or ball marker is accidentally moved on the putting green by any player, including the one who caused it. The rule requires the ball to be replaced on its original spot, estimated if necessary, or for a marker to be placed to identify that spot.
Despite the fortunate bounce, Kim's week did not end in the manner the moment suggested it might. She finished two-under for the tournament, missing the cut by a single shot, even though she found all 14 fairways during that second round.
It marked just the second missed cut of Kim's season, following an earlier failure to reach the weekend at the US Women's Open in June.
The South Korean has otherwise enjoyed a strong 2026, with six top-10 finishes and victories at the Fortinet Founders Cup and the Ford Championship. Her next outings will offer a chance to add to that record as the LPGA Tour season continues.