| 1st point.... if the first ball was thought to be lost in a water hazard, then the rules don't allow for him to even play a provisional ball (unless there is a local rule to that effect... very rare). So when he hit the second ball, the first ball was automatically abandoned and the 2nd ball became the ball in play lying 3 wherever it ended up. If that 2nd ball was lost, then he should have returned to the tee and hit yet another ball, and that would be his 5th stroke.
If there was reason to believe that the first shot might be lost OUTSIDE of the hazard, then he was correct in playing a provisional, and once the original ball is found, the provisional is abandoned and any strokes taken with that ball are not counted.
So more information is required for clarification before a correct ruling can be made. Was the original ball thought to be lost in the hazard? Or was there sufficient reason to think that it might be lost in deep rough that was not within the margin of the hazard?
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Rick
Driver - Mizuno MX-560 9.5°
3W - Mizuno F-60 15°
4W - Mizuno F-60 16.5°
22° & 25° TM Rescue hybrid
6I thru PW King Cobra 3400I/XH
Gap Wedge52° Callaway X Tour
SW - Cleveland CG11 56°
High Wedge - 58° Callaway X Tour
Putter - Golfsmith Enterprise
USGA Index 11.1 | 
Rule - need help with this specific situation on provsional balls
Linear Mode
