fatshot As I read the rules, which are too long for provisional, and once the provisional is closer to the green than the "lost" ball and played, it becomes the ball in play. Based on @KCee story, his provisional was still farther away from the green and he can play his original ball. I'm surprised about this. Got this from R&A.org--I think I read this correctly--am surprised how many caveats, exceptions, and examples they were on just this subject.
Way too many rules and caveats. Same with declaring provisional is this a formal declaration, a whisper, yell into the wind??
I have played with folks who quote rules all day except when it applies to him. Did people playing a weekend round actually walk back to the tee once they realized their ball is out of bounds? I dropped nearby and played it as my 4th.