What happens if a player returns their scorecard with correct hole scores but an incorrect total score?

When a player returns their scorecard showing correct scores for each individual hole but an incorrect total score, the rules of golf state that the player is not penalized. The total score recorded on the card is considered a clerical error, as long as all the individual hole scores are accurate.

This situation arises because the primary requirement is that each hole's score must be accurately noted, which the player has done. In this case, the governing bodies of golf recognize the player's honest efforts to report their scores accurately. Therefore, the incorrect total score does not incur any penalties, and the player can still use their hole-by-hole scores for the purpose of determining their performance in the round.

This understanding helps reinforce the importance of accurately reporting hole scores while also recognizing that simple mathematical errors in totaling scores will not lead to disqualification or penalties in the spirit of the game.