Pro golfer Lexi Thompson lost the ANA Inspiration after she received a four-stroke penalty for “incorrect ball placement.”
The twist: Thompson was leading when officials informed her of the penalty on April 2 – for a ball placement which had occurred the day before. And a television viewer had tipped them off to it.
That had a lot of people on social media very upset.
It’s also drawn the ire of Phil Mickelson; according to The Sporting News, he believes the Thompson penalty should be reversed. “I think that she should be given the trophy,” the pro golfer said, The Sporting News reported.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Thompson Had a Three-Shot Lead When She Was Informed of the Placement Error
According to ESPN, Thompson appeared to be “cruising to her second major championship when Tour rules officials informed her of the penalty with six holes to play.”
The LPGA released a statement explaining its decision:
She had a three-shot lead. However, So Yeon Ryu went on to win.
2. Thompson Said the Move Was Not Intentional
In a post on Instagram, Thompson said the move that drew the penalty was not intentional.
Well it was an emotional day here for me, first off I do want to say what I had done was 100% not intentional at all I didn’t realize I had done that. I want to say thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and Mission Hills for making this week possible at the @anainspiration ! Also to the fans out there, words can’t describe what you being there for me, meant to me. You helped me push thru those last holes so thank you for always believing in me. A big thanks to my caddy as well for always staying positive and being there for me when it got tough. I played some great golf so definitely a lot of positives to take from the week. Time for a very needed 3 weeks off now. Thank you everybody ❤
3. Social Media Erupted in Thompson’s Defense
Twitter users were generally angry at tournament officials for imposing the penalty. Many thought it was unfair because it was belated and spotted by an eagle-eyed TV viewing fan. Others mocked the anonymous viewer.
4. A Viewer Emailed the LPGA About the Placement Error
According to CBS Sports, “someone emailed the LPGA on Sunday about a moment that happened in Thompson’s Saturday round, and she was docked four strokes, which turned her Saturday 67 into a 71.”
CBS reported that the moment that caused the penalty “came at the par-3 17th hole on Saturday. Thompson appears to have moved her ball slightly after marking it.”
The viewer “emailed the LPGA on Sunday,” CBS reported, “and Thompson was told about the penalty during the middle of her round and that she would be docked two strokes for the movement of the ball and two more for signing an incorrect scorecard.”
5. Thompson Forced a Playoff With the Eventual Winner
The New York Times reports that Thompson was able to “regroup” after the penalty, but it wasn’t enough.
She forced a playoff with So Yeon Ryu, the Times reported, but Ryu “won with a birdie on the first extra hole, the par-5 18th. That came after Thompson narrowly missed an eagle putt on the last hole of regulation that would have delivered her the victory.”
The four-stroke penalty turned her “two stroke lead” into a “two stroke deficit,” noted the Times.
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