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Minutes before Patrick Reed was set to tee off in the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, and minutes after Rory McIlroy teed off, the PGA Tour issued a statement on the third round rulings.

The controversy surrounding Reed is well documented, but, as it turns out, McIlroy did pretty much the exact same thing on the 18th hole about 40 minutes later.

See the Video & Statement Below:

Rory McIlroy takes embedded ball relief on No. 18 during Round 3. pic.twitter.com/9D4HH4Gv5g

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 31, 2021

PGA Tour Statement

“John Mutch, Ken Tackett and Gary Young have reviewed the Rory McIlroy videos from number 18 yesterday and determined that it was virtually the same situation that Patrick Reed faced on No. 10 during the third round. 

It was reasonable for both players to conclude – based on the fact that they did not see the ball land, but given the lie of the ball in soft course conditions – that they proceed as the Rule allows for an potential embedded ball. 

They marked, lifted and assessed the situation to determine if the ball was embedded. Patrick went on step further and called in a Rules Official to be sure his assessment would not be questioned (although this step is not required). 

Both players took a proper relief under the Rule 16/3. The Committee is comfortable with how both players proceeded given the fact that they used the evidence they had at the time.”