A “Lexi Thompson Rule” was implemented by the overseers of professional golf on Tuesday in reaction to the LPGA golfer losing the first major tournament of the year after a TV viewer reported a mistake she made during play.
The new rule basically will “limit the use of video evidence” in policing past play, said Golf Week.
Thompson had a two-stroke lead on the final day of the ANA Inspiration tournament when LPGA officials approached her on the 12th hole, telling her she had been hit with a four-stroke penalty for incorrectly marking her golf ball on one of the holes a day earlier – a mistake that ultimately contributed to her losing the tournament, according to NESN.
At the time, former No. 1 PGA golfer Tiger Woods came to Thompson’s defense.
Perhaps the United States Golf Association follows Woods on Twitter because the new rule change implies that it agrees with him.
The new rule – Decision 34-3/10 – will “limit the use of video evidence” by putting two standards in place, which will be effective immediately, per Golf Week.
“The new reasonable judgement standard deals with situations where a player is required to make a prompt determination in applying the rules, with the act of replacing a lifted ball being only one of those many situations,” said Thomas Pagel, the USGA’s senior director of rules. “If the situation were to arise, the committee would need to take into account all of the relevant factors, including the actions the player took and the context in which they were taken, the player’s explanation and also the extent of the inaccuracy in replacing the ball.”
“This important first step provides officials with tools that can have a direct and positive impact on the game,” said USGA executive director/CEO Mike Davis. “We recognize there is more work to be done. Advancements in video technology are enhancing the viewing experience for fans but can also significantly affect the competition. We need to balance those advances with what is fair for all players when applying the rules.”
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