Jordan Spieth discovers remarkable rule during the WM Phoenix Open after fan catches his golf ball

It is never too late to experience something new. US golfer Jordan Spieth found out firsthand recently during the WM Phoenix Open.

In the first round of the tournament, Spieth hit his tee shot of the par-3 4th hole into the gallery. That's where the confusion began.

When the broadcast returned from a commercial break, Jordan Spieth was seen laughing near the spot his ball had landed at. That followed the crowd booing at someone.

An on-course reporter via the ESPN+ stream explained what had happened, saying:

"The gentleman that it hit, he was sitting there right next to the ball. And Jordan Spieth walked over and he picked it up and gave it to him."

If the spectator had indeed handed Spieth the ball, the golfer would have just found himself in a very interesting position. It seemed like the boos were directed at the naive spectator who may have thought that he was simply helping the star golfer.

The reporter further added:

"He wanted to give it to Jordan. So that makes things a little tricky."

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How exactly was the situation of Jordan Spieth's tee shot resolved?

Jordan Spieth at the WM Phoenix Open - Round One (Image via Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

While Spieth asked his playing partners to continue with their game, he waited for the rules officials to decide on the matter of his tee shot.

He also began talking to the spectator to try and figure out what exactly had happened and where he could take his drop shot. The spectator told him:

"I was sitting here, and it landed in my hand."

Spieth replied:

"So you caught it?"

The spectator said yes and explained why he threw the ball. He motioned in front of him saying:

"Then someone yelled to drop it, so I threw it (intelligible)."

Jordan Spieth relayed the information to the rules officials upon their arrival. He said:

"So it landed on him, and then it stuck there and he had it in his hand. So I’m trying to figure out exactly where that was."

After speaking with the spectator further and figuring out where exactly he was sitting, the golfer dropped and chipped on. Spieth was two under at the time. He missed the par putt and made a bogey to drop one under at the WM Phoenix Open.

The spectator involved in the incident received a glove from Spieth. The reporter remarked about the spectator, saying:

"That fan thought he was coming to watch some golf and ended up being perhaps a part of an important ruling."