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
—————————————————————–
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.
This is ridiculous. Next Major League Baseball will allow the viewers to call balls and strikes. Outside viewers can have opinions but not affect the game. The officials should have until the next round to make any changes and then the round is over unless a player calls a penalty on themselves. What would have happened if the viewer called in today after she had been awarded the trophy???????
as usual the us pga screwed up-a la dustin johnson and rapidly changing the rules 6 months later-how the hell can some a hole watching on tv directly influence someone who is a- playing for a living and b-an honorable young lady.It’s a disgrace and yet another reason for young people watching the debacle to NOT get involved with playing golf at a time when the game desperately needs young people to start playing.Yet another anal rules official sees his name in lights and is a self made hero.Name and shame him or her
I saw the mismarking or misplacing of the ball live on TV Saturday. I thought it was probably a violation but I don’t believe the ball was placed any closer or to any advantage. I also would not interfere from a spectators point of view. Yes it is the responsibility of the player to follow the rules but it is not in the rules for the TV audience to email in an infraction as seen in a closeup camera view from an angle not seen by the competitors.
I think the tattle tail should be named and possibly shamed . They should not be able to remain anonymous.
And 24 hrs is too late anyhow
Grant Dalziel SAfrica
There isn’t any logical reason to think that a viewer watching television should have a say in what happens at a sporting event. There are plenty of rules officials on site. Furthermore a two stroke penalty for signing an incorrect scorecard a day after the fact when she, in fact no one knew an infraction had occurred.
Silly. Both of these things need to be addressed. Very sad that the winner by what would have been a large margin isn’t holding the trophy.
The decision on a penalty just be made the same day during the round and only IF the player has gained an advantage. Also pga should not allow armchair contacts ,each game has a rules official with them and their decision at the time should be the only one. Golfers are self judging . Also if there is a penalty this should be a maximum of 2 shots. If it’s not spotted the same day then the original score stands. You don’t see the results of soccer games reversed the following day!0
I assume it was the PGA’s intention to reward and honor the best, the most skilled golfer, at this Major event and if it was, they failed miserably. What a disgrace for the sport.
The right thing for Ryu do to would have been to refuse the trophy and donate the prize money to charity – she must know she didn’t earn the victory ? She knows in her heart that Thompson was the true champion.
The players must push-back against these rules “officials” who exhibit a total lack of common sense. The goal of these tournaments should be to determine the best golfer at that time, on that track – their level of play should rule the weekend. Nope, these days it’s become an opportunity for some nameless official, who never hits a shot, to determine the outcome – competitors be damned !
The difference betwen other sports and golf is that they have active officiating (and trying to fool them is considered a skill). The problem is not the callers — it’s the RESPONSE to the callers. The violation was de minimis and should have been ignored (with a caution to Lexi).
There are ~ 80 competitors all playing simultaneously. And if only “one” viewer noticed a player inadvertently footwedge his/her ball, that viewer’s email should be ignored after reviewing footage of the infraction and the player merely “cautioned” ? C’mon, man.
Did you even read my comment? I have no problem with a viewer suggesting a possible infraction. I said, “(If the) violation was de minimis,” it should be ignored.
Yeah. That’s why I responded. So, you’re gonna be the arbiter of “de minimus”, huh? How far from the original spot can one mark his ball then, an “inch” perhaps? If so, I’ll henceforth count every putt I leave on the lip as “made”.
I am torn on this one. I agree that interference from home viewers is a problem. I also agree that, even though they are highly-trained, or we at least expect them to be so, sports officials are human after all. They have to make split-second decisions on what they see (or don’t see). At the Ryder Cup last year a Euro player appeared to have made an anchored stroke with his fairway wood while chipping onto a green and my blood boiled. I would have been that “rules Nazi” calling or emailing to point that out but could not find the contact info I needed. This year in NCAA basketball a defensive player put his hand up through the net to knock the ball out, which would have otherwise been a basket. No call by the refs, the shooter’s coach gets in the ref’s face and gets called for a technical foul which results in 2 more points for the opposition. At least with other sports, once the final horn is blown or whatever signal is used to end the contest, the results are locked in. Heaven forbid we ever have a viewer of NFL Network watching a replay of a tight play during the off-season and calling Commish Goodell to challenge a call that would have changed the game’s outcome, and possibly the playoff chances of that team or the opponent. In golf, we need to do the same. Score is posted, nobody says a word about an infraction before all involved are gone from the venue en route to dinner and prepping for the next day, lock it in and emails like the one in this case be perhaps used by the governing organization for future self-improvement efforts but not used against the player. If the alleged gaffe happened in a 4th round, which is done by sunset Eastern time, in an Eastern-time location, is seen via replay on the west coast and a viewer calls in, or somebody watching it on the graveyard shift, after the winner has their trophy and is waking up to pack and head to the airport already, are we to frantically call the airport and ask the TSA to issue a “BOLO” for that player to be detained and have the trophy confiscated so as to be sent to the “rightful” winner by FedEx at their next event, or their home?
Once the hardware has been presented, the results are official. You can’t have nor want an official standing on every green watching every ball as it’s marked and then later replaced. If the girl is concerned enough to actually dot a 2-foot putt, do it “correctly” or risk penalty. It’s not difficult; a six-year-old child can manage that task.
Sadly the R&A, USGA, PGA and LPGA are too full of themselves right at the moment to realize that they have a quite serious problem on their hands, and one that needs attention before the first ball is struck at Augusta on Thursday.
In every other sport there is a limit as to when a score is final. Normally that occurs when an official of that game signs a score sheet verifying that the game has been scored correctly. Baseball teams can play a game under protest but it has never resulted in a vacation of a final score.
The simple solution? From the moment the final player on the course signs their scorecard the chairman of the rules committee has a maximum of 30 minutes to verify all scores and sign off on them. Once that occurs all scores are final.
In addition all penalties must be either called by the player themselves or an official who directly witnesses the stroke in question. While video may be used to properly assess the penalty no outside agents may be involved in calling a stroke into question.
Interesting that Tiger was not assessed a penalty when he took an improper drop after hitting in the water. One would think Lexi is a big
enough star to get the same treatment.
franklygolf 
Let the RULES Offical Do His Job. TV Views are Not Officals. Peroid
This is ridiculous. Next Major League Baseball will allow the viewers to call balls and strikes. Outside viewers can have opinions but not affect the game. The officials should have until the next round to make any changes and then the round is over unless a player calls a penalty on themselves. What would have happened if the viewer called in today after she had been awarded the trophy???????
as usual the us pga screwed up-a la dustin johnson and rapidly changing the rules 6 months later-how the hell can some a hole watching on tv directly influence someone who is a- playing for a living and b-an honorable young lady.It’s a disgrace and yet another reason for young people watching the debacle to NOT get involved with playing golf at a time when the game desperately needs young people to start playing.Yet another anal rules official sees his name in lights and is a self made hero.Name and shame him or her
I saw the mismarking or misplacing of the ball live on TV Saturday. I thought it was probably a violation but I don’t believe the ball was placed any closer or to any advantage. I also would not interfere from a spectators point of view. Yes it is the responsibility of the player to follow the rules but it is not in the rules for the TV audience to email in an infraction as seen in a closeup camera view from an angle not seen by the competitors.
I think the tattle tail should be named and possibly shamed . They should not be able to remain anonymous.
And 24 hrs is too late anyhow
Grant Dalziel SAfrica
There isn’t any logical reason to think that a viewer watching television should have a say in what happens at a sporting event. There are plenty of rules officials on site. Furthermore a two stroke penalty for signing an incorrect scorecard a day after the fact when she, in fact no one knew an infraction had occurred.
Silly. Both of these things need to be addressed. Very sad that the winner by what would have been a large margin isn’t holding the trophy.
The decision on a penalty just be made the same day during the round and only IF the player has gained an advantage. Also pga should not allow armchair contacts ,each game has a rules official with them and their decision at the time should be the only one. Golfers are self judging . Also if there is a penalty this should be a maximum of 2 shots. If it’s not spotted the same day then the original score stands. You don’t see the results of soccer games reversed the following day!0
I assume it was the PGA’s intention to reward and honor the best, the most skilled golfer, at this Major event and if it was, they failed miserably. What a disgrace for the sport.
The right thing for Ryu do to would have been to refuse the trophy and donate the prize money to charity – she must know she didn’t earn the victory ? She knows in her heart that Thompson was the true champion.
The players must push-back against these rules “officials” who exhibit a total lack of common sense. The goal of these tournaments should be to determine the best golfer at that time, on that track – their level of play should rule the weekend. Nope, these days it’s become an opportunity for some nameless official, who never hits a shot, to determine the outcome – competitors be damned !
The difference betwen other sports and golf is that they have active officiating (and trying to fool them is considered a skill). The problem is not the callers — it’s the RESPONSE to the callers. The violation was de minimis and should have been ignored (with a caution to Lexi).
There are ~ 80 competitors all playing simultaneously. And if only “one” viewer noticed a player inadvertently footwedge his/her ball, that viewer’s email should be ignored after reviewing footage of the infraction and the player merely “cautioned” ? C’mon, man.
Did you even read my comment? I have no problem with a viewer suggesting a possible infraction. I said, “(If the) violation was de minimis,” it should be ignored.
Yeah. That’s why I responded. So, you’re gonna be the arbiter of “de minimus”, huh? How far from the original spot can one mark his ball then, an “inch” perhaps? If so, I’ll henceforth count every putt I leave on the lip as “made”.
I am torn on this one. I agree that interference from home viewers is a problem. I also agree that, even though they are highly-trained, or we at least expect them to be so, sports officials are human after all. They have to make split-second decisions on what they see (or don’t see). At the Ryder Cup last year a Euro player appeared to have made an anchored stroke with his fairway wood while chipping onto a green and my blood boiled. I would have been that “rules Nazi” calling or emailing to point that out but could not find the contact info I needed. This year in NCAA basketball a defensive player put his hand up through the net to knock the ball out, which would have otherwise been a basket. No call by the refs, the shooter’s coach gets in the ref’s face and gets called for a technical foul which results in 2 more points for the opposition. At least with other sports, once the final horn is blown or whatever signal is used to end the contest, the results are locked in. Heaven forbid we ever have a viewer of NFL Network watching a replay of a tight play during the off-season and calling Commish Goodell to challenge a call that would have changed the game’s outcome, and possibly the playoff chances of that team or the opponent. In golf, we need to do the same. Score is posted, nobody says a word about an infraction before all involved are gone from the venue en route to dinner and prepping for the next day, lock it in and emails like the one in this case be perhaps used by the governing organization for future self-improvement efforts but not used against the player. If the alleged gaffe happened in a 4th round, which is done by sunset Eastern time, in an Eastern-time location, is seen via replay on the west coast and a viewer calls in, or somebody watching it on the graveyard shift, after the winner has their trophy and is waking up to pack and head to the airport already, are we to frantically call the airport and ask the TSA to issue a “BOLO” for that player to be detained and have the trophy confiscated so as to be sent to the “rightful” winner by FedEx at their next event, or their home?
Once the hardware has been presented, the results are official. You can’t have nor want an official standing on every green watching every ball as it’s marked and then later replaced. If the girl is concerned enough to actually dot a 2-foot putt, do it “correctly” or risk penalty. It’s not difficult; a six-year-old child can manage that task.
Well thought out an we’ll expressed. How would you react if the player recorded a “3” instead of a “4” and it was not discovered until after sunset?
I think the PGA, LPGA etc should totally ignore public rules cops!
Ugly, ugly, ugly. Another reason I watch golf with the sound turned off. Politics may once again kill a wonderful sport.
I agree with those who feel that the situation was WRONG.
If you are going to scrutinize one player by means of the TV, you must scrutinize them all. Guess how long that would take.
I further think that all close up shots like those must be banned from the viewers. It creates an unfair situation.
Beside all of that all outside TV viewers opinions or observations should be disregarded.
Sadly the R&A, USGA, PGA and LPGA are too full of themselves right at the moment to realize that they have a quite serious problem on their hands, and one that needs attention before the first ball is struck at Augusta on Thursday.
In every other sport there is a limit as to when a score is final. Normally that occurs when an official of that game signs a score sheet verifying that the game has been scored correctly. Baseball teams can play a game under protest but it has never resulted in a vacation of a final score.
The simple solution? From the moment the final player on the course signs their scorecard the chairman of the rules committee has a maximum of 30 minutes to verify all scores and sign off on them. Once that occurs all scores are final.
In addition all penalties must be either called by the player themselves or an official who directly witnesses the stroke in question. While video may be used to properly assess the penalty no outside agents may be involved in calling a stroke into question.
Interesting that Tiger was not assessed a penalty when he took an improper drop after hitting in the water. One would think Lexi is a big
enough star to get the same treatment.