The procedure preserves a rules question
Rule 20 permits a stroke-play player uncertain about procedure to complete a hole with two balls if the decision is made in time. The facts must be reported to the Committee before the scorecard is returned, even if both balls produce the same score. It is separate from a provisional ball.
Imagine uncertainty about whether a particular free-relief procedure is available. The player continues with the original ball and another under the disputed procedure. The two routes preserve the question for a ruling; they do not create a contest to find the better result.
A score comparison does not settle validity
If one ball takes four and the other five, knowing those totals alone does not establish which counts. The Committee considers whether the relevant procedure was allowed and the choice made under the rule. A lower number is not a substitute for that decision.
This explains a broadcast showing two finishes on one hole without immediately changing the leaderboard. Keep a small record of each ball, the procedure used and its score. Avoid adding both totals together or assuming the first ball was automatically abandoned. This is an ordinary stroke-play rules-doubt procedure, not a general right to play two balls in match play.
Questions answered
Does the lower of the two scores automatically count?
No. The permitted procedure and Committee decision determine the result.
Can the player skip reporting because both scores match?
No. Reporting remains required.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.