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.
Four strokes was overkill! She made a mistake that should not have called for more than a two stroke penalty. Perhaps a better suggestion is to cap all changes to the time prior to the signing of scorecards and initiated by official scorers or playing companions.
Golf is once again the loser on this one. Why would young people want to participate in a game where the outcome is influenced a day late by some TV viewer. As an engineer I agree with the comment that the ball can never be replaced on the exact same position. Lexi, however, was standing off to the side of her ball and replaced it at the 10 or 11 o’clock positon on her coin instead of the 12 o’clock position with no intent to gain an advantage over other players.
The ruling golf bodies need to get real and stop letting arm-chair officials box them in a no-win corner.
The lack of advantage might be the most telling point, along with the inadmissibility of an opinion belonging to a tv-watcher.
Many people comment that viewers shouldn’t be allowed to report an infraction… many times they’re wrong… but sometimes they get it right. Except on rare occasions (i.e. Harrington not being able to see his ball move), it’s the player’s responsibility to know the rules.. PERIOD. Other players are not watching 100% of the time. Maybe the 4 strokes was excessive, except that under the old rules she would have been disqualified for signing a wrong scorecard. As someone who has officiated approx 100 tourneys, I have no problem with spectators telling me something… and I strongly suggest players, at all levels, should learn the rules inside and out.
No wonder interest in the sport is declining. Instead of events which enhance interest and attract people TO the game, these kinds of events drive individuals AWAY. How many people who are looking for a new sport saw or heard about this and decided “No thanks, not for me, don’t need that kind of nonsense when I am looking for recreation.” Great P R move, golf!!!! Golf needs to understand that in today’s world most people have limited time and limited money for their recreation and they spend both carefully. Good job pushing people (and their $) to tennis, bicycling & skiing.
Unbelievable, anyone involved in this decision should run for Congress. They can always use a few more spineless idiots.
Cudos to Lexi, what a class act.
No way should that have happened as it did. Once a round of golf is completed, score cards signed and recorded and accepted, it is over,and finished,, overlooked violation or not.Had the violation been totally overlooked, the end result would have been a more proper one. As it stands the best golfer of the tournament was denied victory.
I can’t believe that the LPGA is that stupid to react to a viewer. The PGA learned their lesson a year or two ago. Their actions do nothing to help improve the game!
Hate armchair officials, especially a day late! IGNORE THEM.!!!!!! She had no opportunity to sign a correct score card on Saturday since the penalty wasn’t assessed til Sunday. She should not be penalized for that. If you really want to split hairs I would submit NO ball is ever replaced to true true original spot so we should all be penalized on all holes.
Have you ever officiated a tourney? It is the players responsibility to know the rules. PERIOD. Under the old rules she would have been DQ’d. Did you know in some cases, the tournament can go back and rescind the outcome and award it to another when they find out a player had broken a rule? The fact that you condone the idea that she should get away with breaking the rules goes against the very foundation of the sport.
A four stroke penalty for misplacing a ball 1/2 inch to the side is not the foundation of golf and if it were, I would not play tournament golf again and I have competed for 65 years. If there is a question you ask for a ruling. The severity of the penalty 24 hours after the fact is unfair, arbitrary, illogical and inappropriate and was determined in a way that is entirely new to the rules of golf. You’re a lone eagle on this one, Mikey.
Look at the video closely and I feel there is no violation. I watch both LPGA and PGA and the golfers move their golf balls numerous times, pick them up, turn them etc. Don’t tell me they put them back in the exact place. Look closely as Lexi draws her hand and the ball back.
You had assumed that Lexi did not intentionally make the mistake and unaware of that, so she signed the scorecard. Even though we believe she wasn’t but how can you make that assumption.
I do not believe that a viewer should be able to call out an infraction. It didn’t seem that any of the players or officials saw anything while that hole was being played. It’s very easy for armchair critics to pick apart any sporting event. They haven’t paid to be trained or licensed to watch for infractions. Lexi certainly got the raw deal on that one.
First, no penalty should be suggested by anyone who is not a participant or an official. Second, no penalty should be valid after the end of that hole. Lexi should be able to use the caller and the PGA.
Sue who? She’s a professional, who is expected to know the rules. She had a momentary lapse of mental focus and replaced the ball not in the same spot from where she lifted it. Thanks to being in the lead, she was on TV and a viewer saw her goof. Unfortunate for her that her own error was committed in a televised moment, but … nobody to blame but herself. But, I agree with the folks who say no rules emails / tweets / phone calls should be allowed and only the people walking with the players should have any authority.
No tv watcher should be calling in a rule infraction. That said if she did deserve the 2 stroke penalty for marking of the ball she should have not gotten the 2 strokes for the wrong score- seems like double jeopardy.
What no one has touched on is this, the justification made by LPGA officials on TV has to do with it being a 72 hole tournament and what happens within those 72 holes is relevant. That being said, what would their action be if the infraction was discovered on Monday?
Would they take the trophy back???
Therefore it is absolutely clear that the rule was improperly and should never have been considered.
Anthony,
I touched on this, see my “graveyard shift” and “TSA BOLO” comments earlier today … as in, rules gaffe discovered at 0230am EDT by a Golf Channel-watching overnight worker and his / her email or tweet to LPGA HQ is not seen until 0830, but at 0630 that player is up and checking out of her hotel for a 0930 flight to her next event…
And I agree that it is unfair to the players on the top of the leaderboard as they get more TV time than the ones on page 3 or 4, and therefore, are scrutinized my many more eyes at home in HD where a golf ball’s dimple can be the size of a dinner plate !
I think the LPGA followed the rules as they are now.
I believe it is time to change the rule. I think both the LPGA & PGA should get together and not let a viewer notify of some infraction. I think a rules person should be put with every group. Once the hole is over , that score stands.
Golfers are very honest and will call penalties on themselves. Golf should be treated like every other sport.
I feel very sorry for Lexie . I admire the way she handled the news and fought back. She is a true competitor . She showed her heart and soul like a true Champion.
Has Tiger Jones ever called a penalty on himself? The entire golfing world saw his suspended ball descend half an inch, yet even after repeated video reviews, he (and he alone) maintains to this day that the ball merely oscillated.
The pros enjoy/want the coverage for Brand purposes, then whine about it when that coverage indicates a clear breach of the Rules. Perhaps Lexi should mark her ball from “behind” it; like everybody else does.
franklygolf 
Four strokes was overkill! She made a mistake that should not have called for more than a two stroke penalty. Perhaps a better suggestion is to cap all changes to the time prior to the signing of scorecards and initiated by official scorers or playing companions.
Golf is once again the loser on this one. Why would young people want to participate in a game where the outcome is influenced a day late by some TV viewer. As an engineer I agree with the comment that the ball can never be replaced on the exact same position. Lexi, however, was standing off to the side of her ball and replaced it at the 10 or 11 o’clock positon on her coin instead of the 12 o’clock position with no intent to gain an advantage over other players.
The ruling golf bodies need to get real and stop letting arm-chair officials box them in a no-win corner.
True, and she did not gain a material advantage over the field.
The lack of advantage might be the most telling point, along with the inadmissibility of an opinion belonging to a tv-watcher.
Many people comment that viewers shouldn’t be allowed to report an infraction… many times they’re wrong… but sometimes they get it right. Except on rare occasions (i.e. Harrington not being able to see his ball move), it’s the player’s responsibility to know the rules.. PERIOD. Other players are not watching 100% of the time. Maybe the 4 strokes was excessive, except that under the old rules she would have been disqualified for signing a wrong scorecard. As someone who has officiated approx 100 tourneys, I have no problem with spectators telling me something… and I strongly suggest players, at all levels, should learn the rules inside and out.
No wonder interest in the sport is declining. Instead of events which enhance interest and attract people TO the game, these kinds of events drive individuals AWAY. How many people who are looking for a new sport saw or heard about this and decided “No thanks, not for me, don’t need that kind of nonsense when I am looking for recreation.” Great P R move, golf!!!! Golf needs to understand that in today’s world most people have limited time and limited money for their recreation and they spend both carefully. Good job pushing people (and their $) to tennis, bicycling & skiing.
Unbelievable, anyone involved in this decision should run for Congress. They can always use a few more spineless idiots.
Cudos to Lexi, what a class act.
No way should that have happened as it did. Once a round of golf is completed, score cards signed and recorded and accepted, it is over,and finished,, overlooked violation or not.Had the violation been totally overlooked, the end result would have been a more proper one. As it stands the best golfer of the tournament was denied victory.
I can’t believe that the LPGA is that stupid to react to a viewer. The PGA learned their lesson a year or two ago. Their actions do nothing to help improve the game!
Hate armchair officials, especially a day late! IGNORE THEM.!!!!!! She had no opportunity to sign a correct score card on Saturday since the penalty wasn’t assessed til Sunday. She should not be penalized for that. If you really want to split hairs I would submit NO ball is ever replaced to true true original spot so we should all be penalized on all holes.
Have you ever officiated a tourney? It is the players responsibility to know the rules. PERIOD. Under the old rules she would have been DQ’d. Did you know in some cases, the tournament can go back and rescind the outcome and award it to another when they find out a player had broken a rule? The fact that you condone the idea that she should get away with breaking the rules goes against the very foundation of the sport.
A four stroke penalty for misplacing a ball 1/2 inch to the side is not the foundation of golf and if it were, I would not play tournament golf again and I have competed for 65 years. If there is a question you ask for a ruling. The severity of the penalty 24 hours after the fact is unfair, arbitrary, illogical and inappropriate and was determined in a way that is entirely new to the rules of golf. You’re a lone eagle on this one, Mikey.
Look at the video closely and I feel there is no violation. I watch both LPGA and PGA and the golfers move their golf balls numerous times, pick them up, turn them etc. Don’t tell me they put them back in the exact place. Look closely as Lexi draws her hand and the ball back.
You had assumed that Lexi did not intentionally make the mistake and unaware of that, so she signed the scorecard. Even though we believe she wasn’t but how can you make that assumption.
Can’t wait for the Masters! Buying a 80 inch TV so I can officiate every hole with authority from my living room. What’s the tel number?
BR-549
Don’t be funny.
Lexi’s comment to the rules official kind of summed it up – “Is this a joke?”
I do not believe that a viewer should be able to call out an infraction. It didn’t seem that any of the players or officials saw anything while that hole was being played. It’s very easy for armchair critics to pick apart any sporting event. They haven’t paid to be trained or licensed to watch for infractions. Lexi certainly got the raw deal on that one.
First, no penalty should be suggested by anyone who is not a participant or an official. Second, no penalty should be valid after the end of that hole. Lexi should be able to use the caller and the PGA.
Lexi should be able to SUE. Damn autocorrect.
Sue who? She’s a professional, who is expected to know the rules. She had a momentary lapse of mental focus and replaced the ball not in the same spot from where she lifted it. Thanks to being in the lead, she was on TV and a viewer saw her goof. Unfortunate for her that her own error was committed in a televised moment, but … nobody to blame but herself. But, I agree with the folks who say no rules emails / tweets / phone calls should be allowed and only the people walking with the players should have any authority.
No tv watcher should be calling in a rule infraction. That said if she did deserve the 2 stroke penalty for marking of the ball she should have not gotten the 2 strokes for the wrong score- seems like double jeopardy.
What no one has touched on is this, the justification made by LPGA officials on TV has to do with it being a 72 hole tournament and what happens within those 72 holes is relevant. That being said, what would their action be if the infraction was discovered on Monday?
Would they take the trophy back???
Therefore it is absolutely clear that the rule was improperly and should never have been considered.
Anthony,
I touched on this, see my “graveyard shift” and “TSA BOLO” comments earlier today … as in, rules gaffe discovered at 0230am EDT by a Golf Channel-watching overnight worker and his / her email or tweet to LPGA HQ is not seen until 0830, but at 0630 that player is up and checking out of her hotel for a 0930 flight to her next event…
And I agree that it is unfair to the players on the top of the leaderboard as they get more TV time than the ones on page 3 or 4, and therefore, are scrutinized my many more eyes at home in HD where a golf ball’s dimple can be the size of a dinner plate !
I think the LPGA followed the rules as they are now.
I believe it is time to change the rule. I think both the LPGA & PGA should get together and not let a viewer notify of some infraction. I think a rules person should be put with every group. Once the hole is over , that score stands.
Golfers are very honest and will call penalties on themselves. Golf should be treated like every other sport.
I feel very sorry for Lexie . I admire the way she handled the news and fought back. She is a true competitor . She showed her heart and soul like a true Champion.
Has Tiger Jones ever called a penalty on himself? The entire golfing world saw his suspended ball descend half an inch, yet even after repeated video reviews, he (and he alone) maintains to this day that the ball merely oscillated.
The pros enjoy/want the coverage for Brand purposes, then whine about it when that coverage indicates a clear breach of the Rules. Perhaps Lexi should mark her ball from “behind” it; like everybody else does.