Ernie Els avoids penalty after viewer complaint

INVERNESS, Scotland (AP) Already embarrassed by taking four shots in a greenside bunker during the Scottish Open, Ernie Els' day almost became a whole lot worse when the South African was reported by an eagle-eyed TV viewer for a possible rules breach during the incident.

The two-time U.S. Open champion was confronted by senior referee Andy McFee after his opening round of 70 on Thursday and told that a viewer thought Els had grounded his club in the bunker. Footage was reviewed but Els wasn't penalized.

Els says he was "digging a grave" when he attempted to escape the hazard on No. 6.

A sanction would have left Els in disciplinary trouble for the second straight European Tour event, after he was reprimanded for an expletive-laced outburst at the BMW PGA Championship in May.

Updated July 12, 2012