A Scottish pro golfer sparked debate with a lucky bounce off a grandstand during the Dubai Desert Classic. Ewen Ferguson, leading after 36 holes, hit his approach shot on the par-5 18th hole that sailed over the green, struck the spectator grandstand, and bounced back to within 5 feet of the hole.

Ferguson made the eagle putt to take the tournament lead, but the fortunate bounce raised questions about intentionally using the grandstand as a backboard - a practice known as "grandstanding."

When asked about the shot, Ferguson explained: "I thought, I'm just going to go to the back and even if I have to go in the drop zone, I'm just going to splash it out...The game kicks you enough, so to get a little break is nice."

The incident highlighted an ongoing debate in tournament golf:

• Is using permanent structures for favorable bounces within the spirit of the game?
• Should tournaments adjust pin positions to prevent such advantages?
• Are drop zones too favorable for missed shots?

The R&A provides one solution at The Open Championship by placing brutal drop zones in long grass near grandstands, making it a genuine challenge rather than a bailout option.

While some critics called the shot "devious," Ferguson wasn't alone in this strategy. Multiple players have used the grandstand similarly, suggesting it's more a tournament setup issue than player misconduct.

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