TV viewer ruins golfer’s major title bid
A TV viewer’s observation of a rules infringement has likely cost American golfer Lexi Thompson the first LPGA Tour major title of the year.
Thompson was penalised four shots midway through the final round of the ANA Inspiration tournament in Rancho Mirage in California yesterday after the TV viewer notified officials of a ball placement error made by her on the 17th green in the third round.
Thompson was advised of the penalty imposed for the one-foot putt after she finished the 12th hole in the final round.
The four-stroke penalty dropped her into second place, one shot off the lead.
With six holes to play Thompson rallied, forcing a playoff with South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, but the Korean would go on to win the playoff after the American missed a challenging putt.
Defending champion Lydia Ko, of New Zealand, finished tied for 11th at seven-under, seven shots outside of the playoff, after closing with a round of two-under-70.
LPGA rules official Sue Witters said delivering the bad news to Thompson made her sick.
‘‘But what was I going to do? Ignore a rules violation?’’
Earlier, Thompson reacted with disbelief when officials told her of the decision while she walked to the 13th tee. The penalty was in two parts, first for wrongly placing her ball and second for signing an inaccurate card for the round.
‘‘Is this a joke?’’ Thompson asked of the error missed by the LPGA officials on the day.
After being assured it wasn’t by the LPGA official, she responded: ‘‘This is ridiculous.’’
TV footage revealed Thompson had incorrectly placed her ball by at most a few centimetres, the diameter of a coin.
Thompson appeared to choke up slightly, but gathered herself and mashed a drive, eventually posting a birdie on the par-four 13th hole.
Fans on the course and the internet erupted with outrage when the LPGA’S decision became known.
Former men’s world No 1 Tiger Woods immediately came to Thompson’s defence on Twitter.
‘‘Viewers at home should not be officials wearing stripes,’’ Woods wrote. ‘‘Let’s go Lexi, win this thing anyway.’’
After the playoff was completed, an emotional Thompson told a television interviewer she had a ‘‘great fan base’’ and a good relationship with her caddie and that pulled her though.
‘‘They got me through the whole round,’’ Thompson said.
‘‘It’s unfortunate what happened, I didn’t mean that at all,’’ said Thompson, who felt she ‘‘fought strong through the finish’’.
Thompson won this tournament in 2014, and she has excelled for four consecutive years at the LPGA’S first major of the season.
So appeared shocked after claiming her second major, and told media ‘‘it didn’t feel right’’ given the circumstances.
Like Woods, Ko took to social media to express her outrage at the fact viewers at home could influence the result of tournaments.
‘‘Unbelievable . . . really need to change and do something about people being able to call in!’’ Ko wrote.
Thompson continued to put on a brave face after her loss, signing autographs and posing for photos with fans for more than 40 minutes after So won the playoff.