Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler have brushed aside a golf World Cup rules scare to push the United States within final-round reach of frontrunners Denmark at Kingston Heath.
The Americans spent more than 30 minutes post-round reviewing footage with English playing partners Andy Sullivan and Chris Wood and rules officials, determining whether Walker had improved his stance in the trees on the par-4 16th hole.
Such a violation would have incurred a two-shot penalty.
The Americans were eventually given the green light and signed for a three-under-par 69, the equal-lowest round during Saturday's alternate-shot format.
"It's a sensitive matter and I know they want to get it right," Walker said.
"I know they looked at it quite a few times and they brought us a video to look at and we all concluded everything was fine - our playing competitors and officials.
"I knew the rule; I knew you could take a stance. I got in there and I didn't take a practice swing.
"I know you can't knock anything off once you get in there."
The Americans' 10-under total leaves the pre-tournament favourites four shots back of Danes Thorbjorn Olesen and Soren Kjeldsen, whom they will play alongside on Sunday.
"Putting up a solid round of golf was what we wanted to do," said Fowler.
"We gave ourselves a chance going into tomorrow. Alternate shot is a tough format."
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