USGA Implements New Guidelines After Controversial Lexi Thompson Ruling

The USGA and R&A have issued a new Decision on Rules of Golf regarding the use of video to assess rules infractions that will prevent another fiasco like Lexi Thompson endured at the 2017 ANA Inspiration.

The USGA and R&A have responded to a wave of protests from players and fans alike about the Lexi Thompson 4-stroke penalty at the 2017 ANA Inspiration with Decision 34-3/10 that limits the use of video to assess Rules violations.

A few weeks ago Lexi Thompson was assessed a four shot penalty that ultimately cost her the ANA Inspiration championship. An anonymous television viewer who happened to spot a slightly misplaced ball marking cost her two strokes and then two additional strokes for signing what she thought was a correct score card.

Related Story: Lexi Thompson: Where Should Rules Officials Draw the Line?

The golf world caught fire from the extremely controversial ruling and its impact on the outcome of the LPGA’s 1st Major of the 2017 season. Players, fans and analysts all wanted the USGA to come up with some rule to prevent stuff like this from happening again.

Related Story: Lexi Thompson: Mike Whan Walks a Fine Line

Cristie Kerr was considerably less diplomatic and considerable more succinct than LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan in her take on the situation that carried over to a number of player interviews the following week at the 2017 Masters.

USGA has responded rather quickly with a new Decision that invokes two important criteria to guide future situations like Thompson’s case:

“(1) the “naked eye” standard (if video shows the existence of a breach of the Rules based on facts the player was not aware of at the time and that could not reasonably have been seen with the naked eye, there will be no penalty), and (2) the “reasonable judgment” standard (if a player does all that can reasonably be expected in making a determination about a spot, area, point, line, distance or other location in applying the Rules, the player’s reasonable judgment will be upheld even if later shown to be wrong by video evidence or other information.)”

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While this Decision doesn’t specifically mention the reasoning behind why USGA and R&A made the change, it’s hard to imagine that this particular event wasn’t the driving force behind the entire thing. However, when you look at it from a player’s perspective, it doesn’t seem like much has changed other than the naked eye standard, which would have prevented Lexi from getting the two strokes that she incurred during the tournament.

We can all somewhat appreciate what the USGA and R&A are trying to accomplish because if someone sitting at home has a say so over a golf tournament played on television, you have to wonder where they draw the line with the player’s integrity.

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Lexi Thompson was probably unaware of her actions, but in the future rules officials have to at least listen to the player to determine if s/he was aware of what s/he had done in situations like these.