follow up to your lost ball answer

Question
Question
Eddie,
I saw your email thread re declaring a ball lost. Here was
my situation. I hit my 2nd on a par five in the bushes and
then hit a provisional. We went to look and found a few
balls not mine. I then noticed a ball at the bottom of the
gulley 40 ft away in a clearing and said I am not looking
anymore and am declaring my ball lost. I was told that I had
to go look at it to see if was mine. I did and it was and I
played it. My position was if I haven't identified (found)
my ball I can declare it lost anytime.
Need you help
Answer
Hi Gary:
You're right.  You have control over your ball, not someone
else.  When you declared it lost, it was lost, and the
search for the original ball should be abandoned.  You then
should have went to play your provisional.  
Eddie Kilthau
Question
thanks for your answer about 'having to check a ball to see
if it is yours instead of carrying on with your provisional.  
The lost ball scenario happened to Phil Mickelson a few
years ago at Tory Pines. Phil hit a ball in the "gunch" and
then declared the next shot a provisional. When he got to
the gunch area, he took a brief look and declared it a lost
ball. The spotter went in and found the balls location. I
believe by rule any ball located has to be identified
whether the player is looking or not.....just something to
think about......You have only five minutes beginning when
it is your turn to play your shot.
Why after he declared it lost did he have to accept that it
had been found. Or do you know more about what happened with
Phil? Was he obligated to look at the ball found by the
spotter? Does that apply to my situation
Gary

Answer
Hi Gary:

You are correct.  I was informed that if the ball is located within the 5 minutes, you must go indentify it.  If it is yours, you must play it.  Rule 27-2,c states:  If the original ball is neither lost nor out of bounds, the player must abandon the provisional ball and continue playing the original ball.  If he makes any further strokes at the provisional ball, he is playing a wrong ball and the provisions of Rule 15 apply.  He was obligated to identify it, just as you did.  You actually did the right thing by playing it.  Might not have been what you wanted, but it was by the rules.  We both stand corrected, sorry for misinformation.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member