Post by robeiae on Apr 3, 2017 8:16:19 GMT -5
Possible the oddest golf story I've ever seen, with attendant implications for society:
www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/19062269/lexi-thompson-gets-4-shot-penalty-loses-major-viewer-tip
One can of course see this as no big deal; it's just golf. Though it did cost the 22-year old Thompson $155,000 (she took home $250,000 for second, as opposed to $405,000 for first).
One could also note the ridiculousness of the rules here: she was penalized two strokes for the ball placement, fair enough. But the two strokes for an incorrect score card, that's really the fault of the officials who didn't make the right call at the right time. If they had done their job, the penalty would have been assessed immediately and she would never have had an incorrect card.
For those unaware, there's always an official present to make these sorts of calls. A player can also fess up to a violation all on their own. Or another player can claim an infraction has occurred. By and large, that's worked perfectly fine for pro golf.
Anyway, what really struck me here was the fact that some anal-retentive douche sent an e-mail the day after the infraction occurred to complain about it, and then the LPGA actually acted on it! Imagine this in football: people emailing "proof" of missed offsides calls or bad ball placement by the refs. Video reviews within games are already plenty annoying, now we're going to have them for days afterwards? Perhaps FIFA can finally suspend Maradona for his handball...
Beyond that, seriously what possesses someone to "tattle" on others like this? Is it just a random douche? Is it reflective of our recorded society? Or maybe it's gambling related? It vexes me. I'm terribly vexed...
www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/19062269/lexi-thompson-gets-4-shot-penalty-loses-major-viewer-tip
Lexi Thompson had no idea why LPGA Tour rules official Sue Witters was approaching her on the way to the 13th tee at the ANA Inspiration.
When she found out, Thompson still couldn't believe it.
A television viewer's email had alerted officials to a day-old rules violation by Thompson for a 1-inch ball placement error . Her three-shot lead had just been wiped out by a four-shot penalty...
The fateful email arrived during Sunday's final round, alerting officials to the violation committed Saturday. Thompson marked a 1-foot putt with a coin on the 17th green during her third round, but she replaced the ball perhaps 1 inch out of position.
After an extensive video review , Thompson was penalized two strokes for an incorrect ball placement and two strokes for an incorrect scorecard. Witters regretfully explained the penalty to Thompson.
When she found out, Thompson still couldn't believe it.
A television viewer's email had alerted officials to a day-old rules violation by Thompson for a 1-inch ball placement error . Her three-shot lead had just been wiped out by a four-shot penalty...
The fateful email arrived during Sunday's final round, alerting officials to the violation committed Saturday. Thompson marked a 1-foot putt with a coin on the 17th green during her third round, but she replaced the ball perhaps 1 inch out of position.
After an extensive video review , Thompson was penalized two strokes for an incorrect ball placement and two strokes for an incorrect scorecard. Witters regretfully explained the penalty to Thompson.
One could also note the ridiculousness of the rules here: she was penalized two strokes for the ball placement, fair enough. But the two strokes for an incorrect score card, that's really the fault of the officials who didn't make the right call at the right time. If they had done their job, the penalty would have been assessed immediately and she would never have had an incorrect card.
For those unaware, there's always an official present to make these sorts of calls. A player can also fess up to a violation all on their own. Or another player can claim an infraction has occurred. By and large, that's worked perfectly fine for pro golf.
Anyway, what really struck me here was the fact that some anal-retentive douche sent an e-mail the day after the infraction occurred to complain about it, and then the LPGA actually acted on it! Imagine this in football: people emailing "proof" of missed offsides calls or bad ball placement by the refs. Video reviews within games are already plenty annoying, now we're going to have them for days afterwards? Perhaps FIFA can finally suspend Maradona for his handball...
Beyond that, seriously what possesses someone to "tattle" on others like this? Is it just a random douche? Is it reflective of our recorded society? Or maybe it's gambling related? It vexes me. I'm terribly vexed...
