8. Brian Davis, 2010 RBC Heritage
On the first playoff hole with Jim Furyk, Davis attempted to play his third shot from a penalty area and inadvertently struck a loose impediment – a reed – during his takeaway. Davis’s action was indiscernible without the help of slow-motion video replay, but he called the penalty on himself and was assessed a two-stroke penalty for violating Rule 13.4.
“I know I did,” Davis responded at the time, according to PGA Tour tournament director Slugger White. “I could not have lived with myself if I had not.”
Davis was lauded for his character and good sportsmanship. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the closest he’s ever come to victory in 369 starts on the PGA Tour.