Below, I have created a few graphs of different stats surrounding the game of golf - LPGA and PGA, and all sorts of different numbers and recordings. This is just for those whose brains function better with numbers rather than words.
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Any golfer - or person who has any connection to golf, for that matter - has probably heard of the scene that went down at the 2017 ANA Inspiration. Lexi Thompson was heading into the final day in first, her nearest competitor two shots behind. She widened this gap to three shots by the 11th hole. After the 12th, she was informed by two rules officials that she had incurred a four-stroke penalty. Since it was April Fool’s day, Thompson initially took it as a joke, until the officials explained to her what had happened: On the 17th green the day before, it appears that Lexi had placed her ball back in an incorrect spot - a breach that costs a player two strokes. However, since she was unaware of the violation after her round, she signed for her score that day - 67 - which happened to be incorrect. Signing an incorrect scorecard calls for a two-stroke penalty, turning her 67 into a 71, and her two-stroke lead onto a two-stroke deficit. The most shocking part? The rule was e-mailed in by a TV spectator the day after the incident happened. Lexi fought back hard to force a playoff against her opponent, So Yeon Ryu, but lost on the first hole after Thompson left her birdie putt a foot short and Ryu sunk hers. People didn’t hesitate to share their views on social media, including Tiger Woods, Damon Hack, Randall Mell, Paul Goydos, Peter Uihlein, Cheyenne Woods, and other faces of golf. Many called it unfair, others showed sympathy, while some even called it a “disgrace to the game of golf”. I have had several people ask me what my opinion is on the matter, and my answer always surprises them. I always consider the position of her competitor, So Yeon Ryu, who ended up taking the win. If it weren’t for Lexi’s downfall, Ryu almost definitely wouldn't have won. So, in a sense, Ryu didn’t win. Thompson lost. Personally, if I was in her position, I wouldn’t have been able to take the win in a situation like that. On that first playoff hole, I would have made it clear to the audience that I didn't want to win by blatantly missing my putt (but still getting it close enough to make the next one for second). Although Ryu took the win and therefore the money, she is leading this year’s earnings. However, Thompson will most likely end up making more than her simply from sponsorships and endorsements. Overall, this was a scenario that could easily have been avoided, either with rules enforcements or just simple logic, much like a similar scenario with Dustin Johnson at the US Open (he was penalized for supposedly moving his ball on the green, however he still managed to win). The LPGA and PGA have announced that they will no longer accept spectator rulings in profesional tournaments. |