It's been a while since there has been something this controversial surrounding the LPGA. And it seems to be revolving around the same person...Michelle Wie.
Last time, it was the '88-rule' and a withdrawal. This time around, it has to do with a much delayed disqualification...
After finishing Friday and Saturday in second place at the State Farm Classic, Michelle Wie was one good round away from finally living up to her deep potential.
Then, minutes after tapping in her last putt of the third round, Wie sat red-eyed at a folding table in front of a couple dozen baffled reporters and photographers, explaining why she'd been disqualified from the tournament.
The 18-year-old, playing her best golf of the year, broke one of the game's most basic rules: She failed to sign her scorecard before leaving the scoring area.
Too bad the problem wasn't addressed until the day after the incident happened...
Wie told reporters that after she finished her round Friday, she left the tent just above the ninth green where players sign their scorecards. She was chased down by volunteers working in the tent, who pointed out she hadn't signed.
Wie returned to the tent and signed the card, and "I thought it would be OK," she said.
But Wie, according to Witters, had already walked outside the roped-off area around the tent. At that point, the mistake was final, Witters said.
Witters said she and other tour officials didn't learn about the mistake from volunteers until well after Wie teed off Saturday morning, so they let her finish the round.
This was Wie's responsibility, but aren't there enough people in and around the scorers tent--or in the Wie camp--who could have spotted this earlier? There has to be a better system so that matters like this can be avoided in the future.
