Provisional Ball

Question
In a scenario today, one of my playing partners hit a drive a little wayward but all four of agreed the ball was just in the first cut of rough. When we approached the area we expected the ball to be, there was no sign of it. My playing partner then decided he should go back to tee to hit a provisional ball while we looked for the original. We found the original ball before he hit the provisional but he hadn't seen us calling him. Which ball is now in play considering all this happened within five minutes? Thanks.

Answer
Alan,

The second ball would be the ball in play lying 3. You cannot look for the original ball and then go back to the tee. The player must declare to his opponent that he is going to hit a provisional ball after he hits the original ball.

Rule 27-2