One year later, Thompson still has Mission Hills nightmares

RANCHO MIRAGE, California — Lexi Thompson still has occasional nightmares about last year’s ANA Inspiration.

“I’ve relived it for a while,” said Thompson, set to open play today at Mission Hills in the first major championship of the season.

Thompson was penalized four shots with six holes to play in regulation because of a rules violation the day before, wiping out her three-stroke lead. Playing through tears and feeding off the supportive fans, she rallied to force a playoff that So Yeon Ryu won on the first hole.

“The fans were the only reason why I finished the way I did,” Thompson said. “I heard them chanting my name on every shot, every tee. I heard them on the green chanting my name, and I was like, ‘I have to finish strong for them.’ ”

She had a 15-inch par putt on the 17th hole in the third round when she stooped to mark the ball, and then quickly replaced it about an inch away. A television viewer contacted the LPGA Tour the next day, and officials determined it was a clear violation.

Thompson was penalized two shots for improperly replacing her ball and two shots for signing an incorrect scorecard, even though she didn’t know her thirdround score was incorrect when she signed the card.

Under changes made soon after the tournament, players can avoid a penalty if the violation couldn’t be noticed with the naked eye, and if officials deem players made a “reasonable judgment” in taking a drop or replacing a ball. The LPGA Tour adopted a local rule to get rid of the “wrong scorecard penalty,” and that will become a rule throughout golf on Jan. 1.

“I’m just happy that the rule changed so nobody else can be put through what I was put through last year,” Thompson said.