Golf - Lexi Thompson Penalised Four Shots.

[10ClarionSt]

She was a couple of holes into her last round and leading the tournament when she was told by officials that she would be penalised four shots because a viewer had spotted her replacing her ball incorrectly on the last putting green the previous day. I think this is outrageous and has nothing to do with the viewers. Application and observation of the rules is down to her fellow competitors and the officials, not viewers watching at home. I've seen this happen before in other tournaments and it always astounds me that the officials go along with it. I think the players should approach the officials and have this kind of thing stopped.

[Tyrion44]

It is up to the officials to enforce the rules. No one else should be allowed to interfere.

[emmie]

i watched her being interviewed after losing and she was in floods of tears, not surprising. I don't know about the ruling but someone at home shouldn't be able to do this i would have thought.

[douglas9401]

A farce, pure and simple.

[Sipowicz]

Or was it "Fore" shots!

[jno]

how far did she move the ball?

[Sipowicz]

[emmie]

not far according to the commentator.

[Ellipsis]

It's a disgrace. Golf making a fool of itself, yet again, this time fittingly on April Fool's weekend.

You do wonder what would have happened if it had been spotted on the Monday rather than the Sunday ...

[ChillDoubt]

As much as I enjoy golf this sort of utter stupidity puts the game back years.
A genuine error, resulting in a miniscule, immeasurable distance closer to the hole on a 2 foot putt is pedantry.
If the match officials don't spot it the viewing public should not be allowed to act as executioner.

[RobNorth]

If the rules allow the player to lift up the ball and replace it...end of story. It will NEVER be replaced exactly where it was before even you tried. If a player sees a slight irregularity under the ball they're bound to avoid it where possible without calling the committee in for a ruling - it must happen all the time.
As for officials reacting to viewers, the least said the better - imagine if it happened in Snooker.....

[RobNorth]

Jno
How far did she move the ball?

Ask the person who rang in to report it
Ask the officials who ruled on it

The only answer will be "about" "possibly" "maybe" x mm....

[ichkeria]

I agree. Appalling.
Imagine if that were applied to other sports