Golf trolls strike again - this time at LPGA Major

[3TrueFans]

I would say no it isn't, however, the putt was 1 to 1&1/2 foot. To say an advantaged was gained, when there was noting glaring on the green for her to avoid is crazy, also if you think of a coin, moving the ball to either side of the original spot is moving you further from the hole. Provided you put your mark down like most people with the point of the mark pointed through the ball toward the hole.

I guess my question is then why did she do it? I know golf has a lot of minutiae in their rules and it'd be impossible to know them all, but I'd think one about moving a ball would be known by a pro such as herself. It's not like she picked up the ball to look at it and then went to put it back down. She picked it up and moved it over in the same motion.

But all that aside like I said before the real travesty is that they even allow this kind of complaint to be the basis for a penalty, and that the penalty is 4 ******* strokes. That's insane.

 

[jbindm]

I think the PGA and LPGA are playing with fire by more or less crowdsourcing the officiating and enforcing of their rules. If they want to change the results after the fact, that's their business. It's bad business IMHO, but whatever. But leaving it to Joe Fan to act as a spotter? They're opening a giant can of worms here.

 

[cycopath25]

I felt terrible for her. What a **** move by the TV viewer. Since when is the TV viewer a member of the rules committee?

 

[boone7247]

I guess my question is then why did she do it? I know golf has a lot of minutiae in their rules and it'd be impossible to know them all, but I'd think one about moving a ball would be known by a pro such as herself. It's not like she picked up the ball to look at it and then went to put it back down. She picked it up and moved it over in the same motion.

But all that aside like I said before the real travesty is that they even allow this kind of complaint to be the basis for a penalty, and that the penalty is 4 ******* strokes. That's insane.

The only thing I can think that happened and I have no proof to back this up. But this is a the way I can see this happening.

I always use a coin to mark my ball. I use the head on the coin as my "arrow." I point the arrow through the ball at the hole. I then pick my ball up and then place it back so it is in line with the arrow and cup. Maybe whatever she uses on the arrow, got rotated before she put the marker down. And when she replaced her ball, it was on her typical arrow. It was odd, but I just can't believe there was any intention to give herself a better lie there. there was nothing to be gained, even if say their was a ball mark in the way, the potential 2 stroke penalty is worse than missing the putt and putting the second. Let alone we are talking about a 12" to 18" putt. She can make that with her eyes closed with a ball mark in the way.

 

[johnstoncy]

I felt terrible for her. What a **** move by the TV viewer. Since when is the TV viewer a member of the rules committee?

The problem isn't the TV viewer, it is the LPGA actually listening to the complaint. If they are going to do that then every shot by every player in every tournament needs to be televised and dissected.

 

[chuckd4735]

The problem isn't the TV viewer, it is the LPGA actually listening to the complaint. If they are going to do that then every shot by every player in every tournament needs to be televised and dissected.

This. If Im watching a football game, and I notice a hold in the first quarter that is missed, can I send an e-mail and have it enforced in the 4th quarter? No.

Its pretty simple...You have officials on the course; If they dont see it, it doesn't happen. Anonymous e-mails into the LPGA should be ignored.

 

[Tre4ISU]

This probably caused the biggest ratings spike in LPGA tour history. ESPN probably sent the email.

ESPN didn't have it.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Also, proposed rule changes would make this thing go away. It's been proposed that no outside viewer call or emails will be considered. That's how it should be. There are 2 other players and a rules official in any group. What they decide should be the final ruling.

 

[Tre4ISU]

It's not totally off the wall to say that moving a ball on the green an inch in either direction could potentially give an advantage though, right?

No, and I initially thought the ball was in a pitch mark but it doesn't look like that was the reason for moving it. The amount she moved it likely wasn't getting rid of something in the line of the putt either. The putt was so short, I have trouble finding reasoning for moving the ball purposely. That doesn't matter in terms of the rules but intent matters to me.

 

[cycloner29]

Betcha it was Steve Bartman!!!

 

[Cydwinder]

Also, proposed rule changes would make this thing go away. It's been proposed that no outside viewer call or emails will be considered. That's how it should be. There are 2 other players and a rules official in any group. What they decide should be the final ruling.

I'm fine with an outside notification as long as it is a timely manner. If it is prior to the start of the next round (the whole round, not just the golfer, I would be fine with it. Mid-way through the back 9 is absolutely ridiculous though.

 

[Farnsworth]

Can a golfer explain to me why she had to pick it up and put it back down in the first place?

 

[1100011CS]

Can a golfer explain to me why she had to pick it up and put it back down in the first place?

For some it's just a routine like two bounces before shooting a free throw. For others, including myself, it's to line up either the ball name or a line drawn on the ball to your put line.

 

[boone7247]

I'm fine with an outside notification as long as it is a timely manner. If it is prior to the start of the next round (the whole round, not just the golfer, I would be fine with it. Mid-way through the back 9 is absolutely ridiculous though.

If you were to allow outside notification, it has to be before the player ends their round. On Sundays once the final player signs the card, the tournament is over.

That said outside notification is not needed. Also not fair since very few of the golfer are actually visible on the broadcast. Need a level playing field.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Can a golfer explain to me why she had to pick it up and put it back down in the first place?

Either she wanted to align it or wanted to make sure it was clean. She didn't have to do it.

 

[Tre4ISU]

If you were to allow outside notification, it has to be before the player ends their round. On Sundays once the final player signs the card, the tournament is over.

That said outside notification is not needed. Also not fair since very few of the golfer are actually visible on the broadcast. Need a level playing field.

The one I always remember is Tiger at the Masters in 2013. He drops a couple yards farther away to get a little better number. How often do you think that has been done?

 

[ArgentCy]

I used to play a ton of golf but I don't even think I played a round last year. The rules are ridiculous some times and spurious. It's just not that much fun unless your playing around and drinking beer.

 

[jbindm]

I used to play a ton of golf but I don't even think I played a round last year. The rules are ridiculous some times and spurious. It's just not that much fun unless your playing around and drinking beer.

I've never played a round with anyone who follows all the rules to a T. That sounds ******* awful.

 

[boone7247]

The one I always remember is Tiger at the Masters in 2013. He drops a couple yards farther away to get a little better number. How often do you think that has been done?

Yeah that is probably the most high profile one before this. However, Tiger was gaining an advantage, just because it results in a longer shot doesn't mean it isn't an advantage. In this situation I have yet to see one myself or hear/see someone else explain the advantage gained. But as you are trying to point out, Tiger is the most watched player, and all his holes are on TV. Where Jason Dufner is only on TV if his hot wife is in the stands and he is in contention on Sunday. Yes I know they are divorced. But the playing field isn't level.

I guess you had the Dustin Johnson one from last year, when his ball rolled back, and he got a stoke because of it. Can't remember if that was a fan that called that or if the rules officials just went to the monitors on their own. Once again, what advantage was gained?

Hopefully in a couple of years this stuff won't matter. The new rules will help a ton for things like this.

Also if her playing partner or the rules official had caught it, they would have told her before she putted, which provided she hadn't picked up her mark she would have been able to replace the ball and no harm was done. Getting an email 20 hours later gives the player no recourse. How ****** would it be if it was her playing partner that caught it during the round, didn't say anything, then went and wrote the email.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I just don't like how this was done after the fact. What other "sport" can you retroactively change the results of something?