Why was Akshay Bhatia penalized in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic? Controversial rule explored

Akshay Bhatia is in the field at this week's Hero Dubai Desert Classic. During the second round of the DP World Tour event on Friday, the young golfer found himself in trouble on the par five 15th hole of the challenging Emirates Golf Club, which left him penalized.

The 22-year-old hit his tee shot to the right of the hole, and the golf ball came to rest near a bunch of trees. Puzzled by how to recover from the shot, Bhatia and his caddie decided that it would be best to play a punch shot out to the fairway of the 8th hole to get a better opportunity for his third shot.

However, the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the DP World Tour committee had declared the 8th hole as an internal out-of-bounds for those playing the 13th hole. Unaware of the rule, Bhatia prepared to play his third shot when he was interrupted by a rules official.

Bhatia received a two-stroke penalty for the unintentional mistake. Here's a look into the scene at the Emirates Golf Club's 13th hole (via Instagram @dpworldtour):

Even though the ruling was clearly mentioned in the rules sheet, Bhatia stated that he did not see it on the sheet. The rules official then pointed out the rule under the local rules section of the same sheet and showed him the white stakes.

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic's commentators were also unaware of the out-of-bounds rule until it was pointed out. The internal out-of-bounds rule has been controversial among players and fans alike, as, according to many, it takes away a player's potential shot.

However, the rule is implemented by tournament officials if playing in a certain area is deemed unsafe or unfair, as it might give certain players leverage with course strategy. This ruling became a practice in competitive golf to avoid players planning to intentionally play their ball down another hole to give them a better opportunity for their next shot.

During the 2019 Open Championship, Rory McIlroy was involved in a similar situation at the Royal Portrush. The par-four first hole had an internal out-of-bounds. McIlroy unknowingly landed his ball in the marked area and was penalized.

The golf community was in splits over the ruling. Golf Magazine's Jessica Marksbury, Dylan Dethier, Luke Kerr-Dineen, and Alan Shipnuck took on the debate of the fairness of the ruling. While Marksbury believes that adding an internal out-of-bounds is in the best interest of players and the golf course, Dethier argued that it takes away the chances of the player.

However, Dineen even argued that players would not complain if there was a water hazard in place of the OB.

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Akshay Bhatia's 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic Round 2 Scorecard

Despite the mishap on the 13th hole, Akshay Bhatia was unfazed by the setback and went on a streak of pars before ending on a birdie on the par 5 18th hole. After facing a two-stroke penalty, he went on to card in an impressive one over par 73 to make the cut.

Here's a look into his scorecard for Friday's round (via DP World Tour):

• Hole 1 (par 4) - 5
• Hole 2 (par 4) - 4
• Hole 3 (par 5) - 5
• Hole 4 (par 3) - 3
• Hole 5 (par 4) - 3
• Hole 6 (par 4) - 4
• Hole 7 (par 3) - 3
• Hole 8 (par 4) - 4
• Hole 9 (par 4) - 3
• Hole 10 (par 5) - 5
• Hole 11 (par 3) - 3
• Hole 12 (par 4) - 4
• Hole 13 (par 5) - 7
• Hole 14 (par 4) - 5
• Hole 15 (par 3) - 3
• Hole 16 (par 4) - 4
• Hole 17 (par 4) - 4
• Hole 18 (par 5) - 4