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Moving her ball over an inch on the green. Video showed that when Troy was getting ready to tap in a putt on the 10th green, her ball was resting on the side of the mark. After picking up her ball, she then replaced it on the left side of the marker, moving it over an inch. And then there are moments that break them. These aren't just questionable moves, these are decisions, actions, and slip ups that stirred up controversy, cosplayers tournaments, and in some cases forever stained reputations. These are the 10 most shocking cheating moments in golf history. At number 10 we have the Sand Sweep Scandal. Patrick Reed's ball landed in a waste area on the 11th hole, but it was what happened next that triggered outrage. Reed took two practice swings and visibly displaced sand, effectively improving his life. The entire act was caught on camera. Despite claiming there was no intent, Reed received a two stroke penalty. The golfing world however judged him much more harsh standing, but the footage told a different story, and a nickname followed, Sandgate. At number 9 we have the Ball in Motion Blunder. At Shinnecock Hills, Mickelson was struggling. On the 13th green, his bogey putt rolled well past the hole and was about to trickle down a steep slope. But instead of watching it drift away, he sprinted after it. Then came the shock. He swatted the ball while it was still moving. It wasn't a reaction of frustration. It was intentional. A calculated decision to stop the bleeding. After the round, he owned the move. He knew the rule. He knew the penalty. But he didn't want to replay a nearly identical shot. Critics called it gamesmanship. Others said it crossed the line of integrity. To this day, that moment remains one of the most bizarre, debated and unforgettable acts in major championship history. At number 8 we have the Drop Zone Controversy. On Augusta's iconic 15th hole, Tiger's approach shot was laser focused until disaster struck. The ball clipped the flagstick, ricocheted off the pin, and heart-breakingly spun back into the water. Left with no choice, Woods opted to drop, but not quite at the original spot. TV footage revealed he had dropped the ball two yards farther back to gain a better number. A keen-eyed viewer watching at home noticed, called in the violation and sparked an official review. The result? A two-stroke penalty that stunned the gallery. He had already signed his scorecard. Technically incorrect. Under older rules, that meant immediate disqualification. But thanks to a recent amendment, Woods stayed in the tournament. Some called it lucky. Others called it controversial. At number 7 we have the Marking Mishap. Here's what the eagle-eyed viewer saw. During the final round, Lexi Thompson was in command, until controversy struck. She was assessed a four-stroke penalty, two for replacing her marked ball slightly off its original spot on the green, and two more for unknowingly signing an incorrect scorecard. But when she puts it back, it's not in precisely the same place. The violation wasn't flagged by officials or players. It was reported by a television viewer watching the broadcast replay. When Lexi was told mid-round, her stunned expression said everything. Heartbreak, disbelief, and frustration. She went on to lose in a playoff, turning what should have been a career highlight into one of golf's most controversial rulings. The moment lit up debate about whether viewers should influence outcomes from their couches. At number 6 we have the Withdrawal Admission. On the 10th hole, Chella Choi marked her ball on the green and replaced it, but not quite in the exact spot. To most, it looked like a harmless routine. But a sharp-eyed TV viewer spotted a subtle shift and reported it. Officials reviewed the footage and confirmed the violation. A penalty was warranted, but instead of accepting the ruling and continuing her round, Choi made a surprising move. She withdrew from the tournament altogether. Critics called it an implicit admission of guilt. Fans viewed it as poor sportsmanship. What might have been a minor controversy suddenly became a career stain that wouldn't fade easily. At number 5 we have the Buried Bunker Mistake. Whistling straights. Final hole. Johnson was leading, standing on the verge of his first major title. His tee shot landed in what looked like a sandy, well-worn area, surrounded by spectators. Believing it was a waste area, he grounded his club. But the area was technically a bunker, one of nearly 1,000 scattered across the course, many unmarked and walked through by fans. Officials ruled it a violation. Two penalty strokes were added. The penalty knocked him out of a playoff. The major slipped away, a cruel twist of the rulebook, and a brutal reminder that in golf, ignorance isn't an excuse. At number 4 we have the Honest Read. Not the officials, not the cameras, not even his opponent. But Davis felt it, and without hesitation he called the infraction on himself, and the entire golf world. At number 3 we have the Delayed Penalty Dilemma. In a pressure-packed playoff, Anna Nordqvist unknowingly grounded her club in a fairway bunker. The infraction was subtle, barely noticeable to the naked eye, but it was real, and the clock was ticking. Her opponent, Brittany Lange, had already been informed. Officials had the information, but didn't act immediately. Nordqvist played her next shot, unaware her fate had already been sealed to the match, with Lange ultimately winning her first major title. It's clear that Lange went on to win her first major. Nordqvist was left reeling, blindsided by a delayed ruling that changed everything. In golf, timing doesn't just matter, it can be everything. At number 2 we have the Club Count Crisis. Usnam was tied for the lead, playing brilliant golf, and riding a wave of momentum. Everything seemed to be clicking, but then on the tee box, just moments after a confident warm up, his caddy made a discovery that would derail everything. There were 15 clubs in the bag, one more than the rules allow. The rules were clear, only 14 allowed. Two penalty strokes were added, immediately wiping out his lead. Just like that, his hopes for a major vanished. One club too many, one careless oversight, one devastating blow to a near perfect round. He didn't fire the caddy, but the damage was done. The lost strokes haunted the rest of his game, and to this day, that moment lingers as one of golf's most painful and preventable technicalities. And at number 1 we return to the Embedded Lie. Reed's second shot landed in the rough and clearly bounced, something everyone at home could see on the broadcast. But Reed claimed there the evidence was already moved, and based on Reed's word alone, they sided with him. No penalty was issued, order, and the whispers haven't stopped since. The video sparked outrage, the wind stayed, but the whispers haven't stopped. These weren't just penalties, they were moments that shaped his life.