Golf-Two shot penalty for Weekley's unusual intervention

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

ORLANDO, Florida, March 17 (Reuters) - American Boo Weekley learned a costly lesson at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday after a failed attempt at good sportsmanship.

Weekley's bid to save playing partner Tom Johnson a penalty stroke while chipping on the par-three second hole cost him a two-shot penalty in the third round.

Compatriot Johnson, on the right side of the green, decided to chip instead of putt and used the contours of the fringe to work the ball down to the hole.

He executed the shot to near-perfection but, as the ball trickled towards the cup, former Nationwide Tour player Weekley darted across to remove the unattended flagstick.

"Tom Johnson did not ask him to attend the flagstick so it was unauthorised and he (Weekley) got a two-stroke penalty," PGA Tour rules official Mark Russell told reporters.

"I'll tell you this, I've never heard of that in my 27 years in golf. Boo said he was just trying to help out and knew if the ball hit the flagstick it was a penalty (against Johnson)."

Weekley, who went on to card a three-under-par 67 that included five birdies and two bogeys, had his score changed to a 69 for a 54-hole total of one-under 209.

"I didn't know that was a penalty but I guess you learn something new every day," said the 33-year-old, who is back on the PGA Tour for a second time after a four-year absence.

Weekley, who finished seventh on the 2006 Nationwide Tour money list, lost out in a four-way playoff for this month's Honda Classic after missing a three-foot par putt for victory at the 72nd hole.