If a provisional ball lands near where the original ball is suspected to be, what must the player do if the original ball is determined to be out of bounds?

Continuing to play the provisional ball is the correct action in this scenario. When a player hits a provisional ball due to the possibility that their original ball may be lost or out of bounds, the rules of golf allow that the provisional ball is treated as if it were the original ball, but only under certain conditions.

If the original ball is confirmed to be out of bounds, the player can then continue playing with the provisional ball without having to return to the tee or drop a new ball elsewhere. It's crucial to note that the provisional ball must be played if the original ball is lost outside of the boundary defined by the course. This option effectively allows the player to maintain their pace and position in play, as returning to the tee or dealing with extra procedural steps would slow the game down unnecessarily.

Other choices, while representing actions that could be taken under different circumstances, do not apply here. For instance, returning to the tee to re-hit is only necessary if both the original ball and the provisional ball are lost or if the provisional ball does not come into play. Dropping a new ball in the fairway would not be appropriate because the provisional ball is still in play and serves as the replacement for the original. Taking a penalty and hitting from the