Whiteford disqualified in India

Television replays showed that Whiteford, who was one off the lead at the start of the day, played his third shot to the 18th green after his ball had rolled a fraction.

The 31-year-old from Kirkcaldy then signed his card and embarked upon his final round but after officials had reviewed the matter, he was told he had been disqualified just after bogeying the short third.

European Tour chief referee John Paramor said: "Peter felt his ball may have moved and for confirmation asked his caddie, a fellow competitor and a TV cameraman, who said they didn't think it had, and so he continued on to finish the hole.

"Overnight several viewers contacted the Tour website. This was reviewed by the Rules Committee, who were able to determine that the ball had in fact moved. He should have incurred a penalty of one stroke and replaced the ball.

"As he did not do so, he was disqualified for signing for a score lower than taken for failing to include the penalty he had incurred. If he had contacted a member of the Rules Team before signing his scorecard, the footage would have been reviewed at the time and he would have averted the disqualification penalty."

Disappointing

Whiteford said: "I should have reviewed it. You can see it when you look at tv. John spoke to me before I went out, so to be honest my head wasn't in it from the first tee.

"I'm not cheating obviously. It's one of those things, but disappointing."

Whiteford, still to win on the circuit, led after the first and second rounds and was still in front when he double-bogeyed the 17th hole on Saturday.