I have been asked for my personal comment on the Lexi Thompson penalty, and in this instance, feel obliged to do so for two reasons, first because it was, in many respects very debatable, and second because I feel strongly about the issue of armchair referees.
For reference the Rules of Golf define, in part ; “Referee A “referee” is one who is appointed by the Committee to decide questions of fact and apply the Rules. He must act on any breach of a Rule that he observes or is reported to him.” There are slightly different duties for Match Play.
An “armchair referee” is not a person appointed by the Committee and in my opinion, the Rules of Golf do not contemplate that the “reporting” of a breach would emanate from outside the venue of the competition.
Using a technology — designed to provide enhanced entertainment with fantastic slow-motion HD visuals of ball compression at impact, facial expressions of both the thrill of conquest, the heartbreak of misfortune, or the grains of sand as the ball explodes from a bunker — to override that which we consider sacrosanct i.e. the integrity of the golfer, is inappropriate and violates the very fundamental essence of the game.
Let’s try to protect the Spirit of the Game which relies on integrity of the golfer, to not only show consideration for others but to abide by the Rules. Hence, we have no need for referees or umpires – except in major events to help the competitor interpret the rules — we are those people.
We play golf to satisfy a subconscious urge to evaluate ourselves while in the pleasant company of other likeminded people, in an attractive environment. The rules lend order to this wonderful activity but let’s make sure we apply them appropriately knowing what it is that we are trying to protect.
I encourage you to leave your comments below.
Frank
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3rd April 2017 Post: Lexi Thompson Penalty
Dear Frankly Friends,
Yesterday we witnessed yet another rules drama at a major championship.
We would like to hear what you think about the four-stroke penalty that Lexi Thompson was assessed on the 13th tee of the final round, after a TV viewer emailed the LPGA to alert them to a rules infraction they had seen on TV the previous day.
We are very interested in hearing what you have to say about this issue. Please share your thoughts by replying below.
Again, USGA did not manage the situation correctly. They need to realize their poorly organized rules are the main problem and they are at fault. The first 2 stroke penalty might be OK but the second is the fault of USGA. Maybe a class action against the USGA would get their attention. There is a lot of money involved in these situations. They should be liable for what they do.
This should not be allowed a day later. It was an incidental action and had no bearing on what happened that day. To assess a penalty retroactively a day later based on an email should not be allowed.
A four shot penalty is off the charts. If any penalty is applied to a golfer it should be done expeditiously. Outside phone calls like this should be banned. Most of the controversial issues that have plagued golf are not that difficult to solve. The powers to be seem to think that the solutions are akin to rocket science.
While I strongly believe in keeping traditions alive, it needs to be tempered with reality.
There was no ‘intent’ involved so Lexi could not have known a penalty would be assessed. How could she possibly be given a two shot penalty for signing an incorrect card when the card was not incorrect until a day later when the LPGA assigned the penalty? I think everyone can agree no advantage was gained by the marking of her ball. Knowing that, the LPGA Rules Officials should have assigned only the two stroke penalty for not replacing her ball correctly.
** With high definition TV now showing things even the player cannot see, there needs to be a way for the rules officials to evaluate the situation and make a decision that is appropriate to the situation.
My feeling concurs with most responders—-Unless the entire field is watched by Big Brother, rulings are left to the players and onsite rules officials only. I see this on NFL games when the ubiquitous cameras immediately move away from an officials spotting of the football. Same for golf—when free or penalty drops occur, go to another group on the course, if feasible, or just let the talking heads ramble on with inane commentary.
This penalty is totally ridiculous. No other sport would allow this. Even last year’s US Open fiasco was terribly handled, you don’t inform one player after her shot then let the other change clubs and hit to a more secure position. If golf can’t get their act together forget about growing the game.
When Baseball or Football allows viewers to call/email in to possibly change a result then golf can too, but until then golf is becoming a fiasco.
The problem comes, on putts, when players use a line on the ball for aim, they’re more concerned with the line than they are with the placement. I can’t believe this was a conscious decision.
In match play any infraction must be settled before teeing off on the next hole. This should be applied to tour golf where there is a rules official available. In club medal play tournaments you play two balls and await a ruling at the completion of the round. Just another reminder of why I stopped sending money to the USGA although they may finally be in the process of reforming the rules and applying common sense. Their goal of preserving the sanctity of par is ludicrous and unattainable without making a mockery of golf course conditioning. Increasing participation should be the sine qua non of the USGA and that the purpose of playing golf is to have fun and especially so when introducing our children to the game.
Accepting any outside rules infraction from any individual not associated with the tournament should not be allowed. Didn’t the PGA tour institute this in the past? I agree with a prior statement regarding pass interference in an NFL contest. No other professional league would accept such interference.
I would also add this. There are rules officials on every hole during a major. If it was not called at the time? Either by the rules official or the player? Play on.
There is also a missing element here. If someone is going to narc out a player while watching TV? Publish the name, address, email, and phone number of the wannabe rules official. They do not deserve anonymity.
The LPGA must have asked the USGA for help with this. It’s inconceivable that anyone would read an email, go back and check the tapes then interrupt play to assess a 4 stroke penalty. Just delete the email and go on with life. But it’s the same rules nazis who don’t plan to offer free drops from divots in the fairway.
There should be no post round penalties, certainly not the next day, I hear a bunch of bs about how it is a 4 round tournament, other sports have multiple rounds and I know of none that change the results of the previous round after it is finished or within a certain fixed period of time to settle any kind of dispute.
I agree with all of the above comments. What I do not quite understand is why she marked the ball in the first place. She was about to make the tap-in putt, then changed her mind and marked the ball and replaced it in a different position. It would seem that she did this to improve the lie or avoid a flaw she noticed in the green. I am not so sure that this was just a silly mistake.
The unanimity of outrage over this call pretty much sums it up. Ridiculous for TV viewers to insert themselves into a competition of any sort. Wrong to penalize her on the scorecard issue as no penalty had been assessed when she signed it. Terrible mark on the “protectors” of the sport.
We have refs, umps, and officials in sporting events for a reason ….please do away with replays…challenges….and call ins…good calls bad calls…all part of the game .
All the other sports that have replay only allow a certain period of time to elapse before the ruling is official. I suggest that “if a rule is accidently/inadvertently broken that it must be called before the player finishes their next hole or last hole by a rules official on site during that round! (not by some guy watching a replay the next day!)
franklygolf 
I think it is an outrage and an over reach. Viewers should not influence a tournament in this manner anymore.
Again, USGA did not manage the situation correctly. They need to realize their poorly organized rules are the main problem and they are at fault. The first 2 stroke penalty might be OK but the second is the fault of USGA. Maybe a class action against the USGA would get their attention. There is a lot of money involved in these situations. They should be liable for what they do.
This should not be allowed a day later. It was an incidental action and had no bearing on what happened that day. To assess a penalty retroactively a day later based on an email should not be allowed.
A four shot penalty is off the charts. If any penalty is applied to a golfer it should be done expeditiously. Outside phone calls like this should be banned. Most of the controversial issues that have plagued golf are not that difficult to solve. The powers to be seem to think that the solutions are akin to rocket science.
While I strongly believe in keeping traditions alive, it needs to be tempered with reality.
There was no ‘intent’ involved so Lexi could not have known a penalty would be assessed. How could she possibly be given a two shot penalty for signing an incorrect card when the card was not incorrect until a day later when the LPGA assigned the penalty? I think everyone can agree no advantage was gained by the marking of her ball. Knowing that, the LPGA Rules Officials should have assigned only the two stroke penalty for not replacing her ball correctly.
** With high definition TV now showing things even the player cannot see, there needs to be a way for the rules officials to evaluate the situation and make a decision that is appropriate to the situation.
My feeling concurs with most responders—-Unless the entire field is watched by Big Brother, rulings are left to the players and onsite rules officials only. I see this on NFL games when the ubiquitous cameras immediately move away from an officials spotting of the football. Same for golf—when free or penalty drops occur, go to another group on the course, if feasible, or just let the talking heads ramble on with inane commentary.
This penalty is totally ridiculous. No other sport would allow this. Even last year’s US Open fiasco was terribly handled, you don’t inform one player after her shot then let the other change clubs and hit to a more secure position. If golf can’t get their act together forget about growing the game.
When Baseball or Football allows viewers to call/email in to possibly change a result then golf can too, but until then golf is becoming a fiasco.
The problem comes, on putts, when players use a line on the ball for aim, they’re more concerned with the line than they are with the placement. I can’t believe this was a conscious decision.
In match play any infraction must be settled before teeing off on the next hole. This should be applied to tour golf where there is a rules official available. In club medal play tournaments you play two balls and await a ruling at the completion of the round. Just another reminder of why I stopped sending money to the USGA although they may finally be in the process of reforming the rules and applying common sense. Their goal of preserving the sanctity of par is ludicrous and unattainable without making a mockery of golf course conditioning. Increasing participation should be the sine qua non of the USGA and that the purpose of playing golf is to have fun and especially so when introducing our children to the game.
Accepting any outside rules infraction from any individual not associated with the tournament should not be allowed. Didn’t the PGA tour institute this in the past? I agree with a prior statement regarding pass interference in an NFL contest. No other professional league would accept such interference.
I would also add this. There are rules officials on every hole during a major. If it was not called at the time? Either by the rules official or the player? Play on.
There is also a missing element here. If someone is going to narc out a player while watching TV? Publish the name, address, email, and phone number of the wannabe rules official. They do not deserve anonymity.
The LPGA must have asked the USGA for help with this. It’s inconceivable that anyone would read an email, go back and check the tapes then interrupt play to assess a 4 stroke penalty. Just delete the email and go on with life. But it’s the same rules nazis who don’t plan to offer free drops from divots in the fairway.
There should be no post round penalties, certainly not the next day, I hear a bunch of bs about how it is a 4 round tournament, other sports have multiple rounds and I know of none that change the results of the previous round after it is finished or within a certain fixed period of time to settle any kind of dispute.
I agree with all of the above comments. What I do not quite understand is why she marked the ball in the first place. She was about to make the tap-in putt, then changed her mind and marked the ball and replaced it in a different position. It would seem that she did this to improve the lie or avoid a flaw she noticed in the green. I am not so sure that this was just a silly mistake.
The unanimity of outrage over this call pretty much sums it up. Ridiculous for TV viewers to insert themselves into a competition of any sort. Wrong to penalize her on the scorecard issue as no penalty had been assessed when she signed it. Terrible mark on the “protectors” of the sport.
We have refs, umps, and officials in sporting events for a reason ….please do away with replays…challenges….and call ins…good calls bad calls…all part of the game .
When a round is completed, then it is completed.
All the other sports that have replay only allow a certain period of time to elapse before the ruling is official. I suggest that “if a rule is accidently/inadvertently broken that it must be called before the player finishes their next hole or last hole by a rules official on site during that round! (not by some guy watching a replay the next day!)
Ridiculous what happed yesterday!!!