Lexi still smarting from four-stroke penalty

Los Angeles – One year on, world number two Lexi Thompson (above) admits she’s still haunted by the controversial rules violation that cost her a victory at the ANA Inspiration last year.

Thompson was docked four strokes for replacing her ball in the wrong spot after marking it during the third round – and eventually lost the first Major of the year to South Korean Ryu So-yeon.

“That night was extremely rough,” Thompson said before teeing it up in today’s 2018 edition of the tournament at Rancho Mirage, California.

“I was screaming, crying. I had nightmares about it and I still occasionally do. It has been rough. I stayed off social media after that because media was blowing it up and making me feel terrible. I had to let it go and let time pass.”

Thompson was on the 13th tee in the final round last year and leading by three shots when she was informed of the four-stroke penalty – based on a phone call from a member of the public who had spotted Thompson replacing her ball in the wrong spot the day before.

She was docked two shots for the wrongly replaced ball and a further two for signing an incorrect scorecard. The incident prompted a global rule change limiting video evidence that has been called the “Lexi rule”.

Now, players can’t be penalised for an infraction that can’t be seen with the naked eye. And they can’t be penalised for signing an incorrect scorecard if they were not aware it was wrong.

Thompson, whose nine LPGA victories include one Major title, approves of the change.

“I’m just happy the rule changed so nobody else can be put through what I was put through last year,” she said. “Everybody just needs to let it go.”

Ryu also wants to move on. She defeated Thompson in a one-hole playoff for the title amid the uproar.

Despite the heartbreak, Thompson went on to win twice, even as she coped with her mother’s battle with cancer and the death of her grandmother.–