There were two rules controversies in the world of professional golf over the weekend. Wyndham Clark was called out by a commentator for potentially improving his lie during a $3.6million win at the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship. Clark beat Patrick Cantlay by three shots after Rory McIlroy fadedGettyAnd Shaun Norris kicked a divot out from under his feet while co-leading the DP World Tour’s Nexo Championship. The former went unpunished, the latter did not. And once again golf’s rulebook finds itself under increased scrutiny. Clark ‘improves his lie’ The US Open champion showed incredible mettle to hold off Rory McIlroy and win the second FedEx Cup play-off event with three closing birdies.However, Clark found himself under the spotlight at the 14th hole when it was all-square at the top. View Tweet: https://x.com/hashtag/pgatour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwWhile assessing his second shot from the rough, Clark grounded multiple clubs directly behind the ball time and time again. Speaking on commentary, ex-Masters champion Trevor Immelman said: “He’s taking a long look at this. “This is like the third club he’s placed down behind the ball there.”And then co-commentator Frank Nobilo said what we were all thinking.“So the lie might be better,” he commented.What is the rule? Rule 8.1a of the USGA handbook prevents players from improving their lie or stroke area, as Bryson DeChambeau found out at The Open earlier this summer. DeChambeau was involved in a major rules controversy at The Open last monthGettyHowever, there is a crucial exception. Rule 8.1b(4) allows players to lightly ground the club right behind the ball without penalty.There is no numerical limit on how many times this is allowed, even if doing so happens to affect the conditions of the stroke, such as touching a few blades of grass.Players only risk a two-stroke penalty if this becomes a clear pressing movement, or if they cause the ball to move. So while DeChambeau was not allowed to stamp all over the long grass impacting his backswing at Royal Birkdale, Clark’s repeated grounding of the club was not deemed a rule violation. It is also worth noting Clark won by more than two strokes.But many critics have argued there is a loophole in the rules that allows players to improve their lie by grounding the club multiple times, raising questions as to whether it is in the ‘spirit’ of the game. And that certainly feels relevant given what Norris was punished for on the very same day… DP World Tour controversyThe South African was bizarrely assessed a two-stroke penalty under the same contentious rule while contending on the DP World Tour.View Tweet: https://x.com/hashtag/NexoChampionship?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwNorris was in the middle of the fairway on the 5th hole at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, preparing his approach shot, when he moved a divot underneath his stance.Golfers are allowed to remove loose impediments, such as leaves or stones, from their stroke area – but this divot was not a loose impediment.Because it had been replaced, albeit badly, this divot was technically considered part of the playing surface, meaning Norris was not allowed to tamper with it. If you asked golf fans which is worse – grounding three different clubs directly behind a ball in the rough multiple times, or kicking loose fairway turf away – most would be in agreement over which one truly improves the lie. The top comment on the DP World Tour post announcing Norris’ penalty was: “Ridiculously stupid golf penalty. Some golf rules make absolutely no sense.”But rules are rules!