News

LPGA Tour pros embroiled in backstopping controversy

Published

5 years ago

Feb 22, 2019

Update: 2/22, 9:50 p.m. The LPGA released the statement below

Our statement regarding Amy Olson at the Honda LPGA Thailand: pic.twitter.com/T1Lpavk4RS

— LPGA (@LPGA) February 23, 2019

End update

Backstopping has been a controversial subject in the game of golf as of late, and this week during the Honda LPGA Thailand, an example of backstopping occurred that has left many golf fans on social media irate, primarily for what happened directly after the incident.

The incident took place on the final green during the second round of the event and features Amy Olson and Ariya Jutanugarn at the heart of the controversy.

Playing her chip shot from the side of the green, Jutanugarn cosied her ball up by the hole, and while seemingly courteously seeking permission from Olson to tap in her putt before the latter played her greenside shot, she appeared to be waved off. Olson then backed off, played her shot, and her ball, which looked to be running well past the pin, collided with Jutanugarn’s and settled right beside the hole. The two then laughed and celebrated the development with a fist-bump.

Even worse with the full video pic.twitter.com/lpras0mF4L

— Duncan French (@Teamfrench23) February 22, 2019

Neither player received a penalty for the incident, which many golf fans feel violated rule 15.3a/1, which states

In stroke play, under Rule 15.3a, if two or more players agree to leave a ball in place on the putting green to help any player, and the stroke is made with the helping ball left in place, each player who made the agreement gets two penalty strokes. A breach of Rule 15.3a does not depend on whether the players know that such an agreement is not allowed.

For example, in stroke play, before playing from just off the putting green, a player asks another player to leave his or her ball that is near the hole, in order to use it as a backstop. Without knowing this is not allowed, the other player agrees to leave his or her ball by the hole to help the other player. Once the stroke is made with the ball in place, both players get the penalty under Rule 15.3a.

The same outcome would apply if the player whose ball was near the hole offered to leave the ball in play to help the other player, and the other player accepted the offer and then played.

If the players know that they are not allowed to make such an agreement, but still do it, they are both disqualified under Rule 1.3b(1) for deliberately ignoring Rule 15.3a.

Amy Olson currently sits two shots off the lead heading into the third round, while Ariya Jutanugarn is seven shots off the pace.

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

62 Comments

Tom

Mar 5, 2019 at 7:15 pm

Perhaps the LPGA would draw more viewers if the attractive players just wore G-strings and pasties with high heels? (Picture Carl (Bill Murray) at the ball washer in Caddyshack!

Reply Report comment
CJ

Mar 4, 2019 at 7:35 pm

The fist bump was the thing that made me more mad than anything. I don’t like what she did but the tours need to figure out their rules and consequences asap

Reply Report comment
- geohogan
  
  Mar 29, 2019 at 10:04 am
  
  If Potus can get away with collusion with our worst enemy, why get excited over to professional golfers colluding to cheat the rest of the field.
  
  Reply Report comment
JP

Feb 28, 2019 at 12:45 am

Let them use backstops all they want. But make both players play their ball where it lies after they come to rest.
.
I guarantee players close to the pin will ALWAYS mark their ball.

Reply Report comment
- Caroline
  
  Feb 28, 2019 at 6:07 pm
  
  Just another reason to slow down play…plan BS just replace the ball at rest where it was and the new ball plays where it ended up…simple…backstop, players are so good they can hit balls on the green and not the hole..hole is 4 times larger…
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Sandra
    
    Feb 28, 2019 at 7:58 pm
    
    You just don’t get it. It’s not that they’re so good they can hit another golf ball. It’s when they miss the hole, they have a chance of hitting the other ball rather than running by too far. Have you considered the rule was written for a reason?
    
    Reply Report comment
KJ

Feb 26, 2019 at 3:49 pm

They both should have been DQ’d per the rules of golf. Im not buying the Im just a pretty dumbgirl routine. She is at the elite level of golf, so she knows the rules or should know the rules. I knew it and Im a 10 handicap hacker. They agreed period!

In stroke play, under Rule 15.3a, if two or more players agree to leave a ball in place on the putting green to help any player, and the stroke is made with the helping ball left in place, each player who made the agreement gets two penalty strokes. A breach of Rule 15.3a does not depend on whether the players know that such an agreement is not allowed.

Once again they KNOW the rules at this level. If the players know that they are not allowed to make such an agreement, but still do it, they are both disqualified under Rule 1.3b(1) for deliberately ignoring Rule 15.3a Bang see you later!!

All stated this does NOT make them cheaters……….it makes them people who should have been issued a penalty for a rules infraction.

Anyway it looks like the Everyone gets a trophy crowd has made it to the LPGA.

Reply Report comment
mario

Feb 26, 2019 at 9:47 am

Good thing those referees are not taking a decision on the Irish backstop… That would last another two years

Reply Report comment
Rufus T. Firefly

Feb 26, 2019 at 9:14 am

This is why some people avoid this game. Too many judgmental assholes looking for an issue.

Reply Report comment
GrandpaDino

Feb 25, 2019 at 5:12 pm

Another solution in search of a problem. Play on, girls!

Reply Report comment
Charlie

Feb 24, 2019 at 11:00 am

Let’s acknowledge the grey area involved here! The rule states when chipping up from just off the green….being said, what is the difference between 30 yards off the green, or 160 yards from the green? If you acknowledge the terminology of just off the green, that would be closer to being on the fringe versus 20 to 30 yards away. Are players going to go mark a ball from 150 out? No! So let the players use the rules to their advantage for a change!

Reply Report comment
Ace

Feb 24, 2019 at 9:01 am

They did it but the question is how are you going to prove it? Answer…Your not

That being siad its a dumb rule that will never really be enforced so best thing to di is remove the dumb rule and accept the fact sometimes players will get these “breaks” rather intentional or not.

Reply Report comment
Gunni

Feb 23, 2019 at 8:09 am

Don’t worry, Karma will prevail.

Reply Report comment
Ozarkgolfer

Feb 23, 2019 at 7:54 am

Penalties to both – obvious backstopping. No one is asking for balls to be marked when players are over 100 yards out – it makes sense when there is chipping and pitching green side.

Reply Report comment
Hppyglmr

Feb 23, 2019 at 4:50 am

Happy Gilmore says phhhuq your rules, snobby dooshwads.

Reply Report comment
Ni

Feb 23, 2019 at 3:01 am

Why is this even an issue? Clearly she hit Ariya’s ball by luck. Especially from where she was.

Reply Report comment
- doug miller
  
  Feb 23, 2019 at 6:55 am
  
  I agree 100%. If she is good enough to do it on purpose just hit the pin every time, pure luck!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Nachos
    
    Feb 23, 2019 at 12:29 pm
    
    Agreed
    
    Reply Report comment
dat

Feb 22, 2019 at 8:10 pm

I originally though this was about players using the grandstands as backstops….then I read the article.

Stupid. This rule isn’t being broken, it is pure chance. Get out.

Reply Report comment
- geohogan
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 11:14 pm
  
  The way the rule is written, it isnt necessary that the opponents ball ended up being a backstop or not.
  Simply playing the shot, while the opponents ball was in position to be a backstop is sufficient to incur the penalty for each player in stroke play.
  
  ignorance of the rule, is no excuse from being penalized or disqualification.
  
  Reply Report comment
youraway

Feb 22, 2019 at 5:32 pm

The Rules are written, agreed upon and published by the R&A and the USGA. This is an obvious and flagrant violation of the Rule. It’s not only clear, but it is recorded. BUT, this is an LPGA event and I have no doubt, they will not enforce the Rules, which calls for the DQ of both players.

Reply Report comment
benseattle

Feb 22, 2019 at 3:44 pm

Backstopping is an affront to the game and about as close to cheating as you can get because it involves not ONE but TWO players. The rule can be as simple as “balls near the cup must be marked before another player makes a stroke IF BOTH PLAYERS ARE NEAR THE GREEN.”

In this case, Jutanugarn should have ignored Olson’s “wave off,” (even if done to speed up play) and marked her ball. Of course it’s absurd to infer that Olson TRIED to hit the resting ball but the fact remains that because the ball was left nearby INTENTIONALLY leaves open the (slim) chance that Ariya’s ball could serve as a backstop. This is a bad, bad look for ANY tournament golf so let’s just eliminate the controversy and instruct golfers to mark a ball near the cup “when in the vicinity of the green.” You’re in doubt about what that means? THEN GET UP THERE AND MARK IT.

Why is backstopping wrong? Because it can give a player an advantage NOT AVAILABLE TO THE REST OF THE FIELD. And it’s preventable.

Reply Report comment
- Piter
  
  Feb 24, 2019 at 2:57 pm
  
  It’s luck of the draw really. 5mm to the right and she would’ve been worse off. This time she was lucky so she smiled and so did Ariya coz id doesn’t affect her anyway. It’s not like me there are 6 balls you might “accidentally” bump into.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom

Feb 22, 2019 at 3:27 pm

Notice the size of crowd in the video? NOBODY there…..nobody cares…..

Reply Report comment
Pete

Feb 22, 2019 at 2:42 pm

Lets be honest, neither player ‘agreed to leave the ball there with the intention of helping the other player’ even if they did so non verbally. So while its a scummy move and definitely cheating, they found a way to not be in contravention of the rule. The fist bump was all about sharing a fun moment of hitting anothers ball which is rare as opposed to the, ‘hell ya, cheating is awesome’ accusation

Reply Report comment
- STS
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 10:56 pm
  
  Totally agree
  
  Reply Report comment
Lance

Feb 22, 2019 at 2:20 pm

The fist bump was simply inferring that it was a good break. Neither one of these players should be labeled as cheating here. The rules are very intricate as we all know and my bet is that neither one of the players were aware of the optics here. I understand players are responsible to know the rules but let’s cut them some slack here. I can guarantee that Ariya is the consummate professional and would never not do her part to protect the field. #letsfocusonsomethingvalid #peoplearetoughbehindakeyboard #beeducatedbeforecastingpoorjudgement

Reply Report comment
Tiger Noods

Feb 22, 2019 at 1:58 pm

This rule requires clarification. It implies that this is during a sequence when players are putting.

How many times have we all said, “Don’t bother; it’s not like I’ll hit it.” 99.9% of the time you’re right. In a pro’s case, maybe that’s 98%. Either way, I can’t see how this was a conspiracy. This is not a penalty, and the norms of the game do not require you to mark when another player is not close enough to use a putter.

Molehill, not mountain.

Reply Report comment
- youraway
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 5:46 pm
  
  That’s not what it implies at all. A player should not leave their ball in position to assist. I assure you leaving a ball on the green while another is putting would not assist but the player would incur a penalty if their ball struck another ball left on the putting surface.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Tiger Noods
    
    Mar 4, 2019 at 5:58 pm
    
    You can’t even spell your own nickname correctly. Go worry about knee-height drops, troll.
    
    Reply Report comment
Dennis Wimd

Feb 22, 2019 at 1:43 pm

Not a penalty. What if they’d been 200 yards off? Where is the line?
Remember if a ball strikes a ball on the green the striking ball remains where it lands and the struck ball is replaced.

Reply Report comment
- Mike Cleland
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 1:59 pm
  
  I agree with you. Where’s the line? Get the blue blazers involved & we’ll be marking balls before we hit our second shots on Par 5s. The way to speed up play is to “simplify” the rules. I suppose the USGA believes if they aren’t constantly getting involved in every little issue they couldn’t justify their $800,000/year salaries.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - joey5picks`
    
    Feb 22, 2019 at 3:53 pm
    
    The line is common sense and not unduly delaying play. Bottom line, they broke rule 15.3a. Both should get a 2-stroke penalty.
    
    Reply Report comment
Bill

Feb 22, 2019 at 1:43 pm

Ridiculous behaviour. Olsen’s ball would’ve been about 8ft past. Bet Ariya wouldn’t leave her ball there if both had to play from where their respective balls finished.

Reply Report comment
Mike Cleland

Feb 22, 2019 at 1:36 pm

What’s up. Do we need a rules issue at every event? The USGA & their blue blazers haven’t learned the old adage ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’…is there a lawyer on every hole? The USGA isn’t happy unless they are on the front page every week.

Reply Report comment
- joey5picks
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 3:56 pm
  
  The USGA doesn’t govern Australia. The R&A does. USGA only governs US and Mexico.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Aztec
    
    Feb 22, 2019 at 9:49 pm
    
    Wrong, it’s Golf Australia. They may choose to adopt R&A policy, but they are the governing body. Why would you think the R&A has an official voice in Australian golf?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Christopher
      
      Feb 23, 2019 at 11:49 am
      
      Like joey5picks posted, the R&A are the governing body for over 110 countries, Golf Australia literally confirms it (and the USGA’s) on their site. They can implement their own local rules, but they’re governed by the R&A.
      
      Reply Report comment
- geohogan
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 11:23 pm
  
  if professional then know the rules or get out of the game.
  We wouldnt have issues or delays if players knew the rules,
  rather than trying to circumvent the rules.
  
  if players delay for rulings which should be known to them,
  the pga should begin suspending those players.
  
  it will speed up play and maybe the players would take time
  to learn the rules of the game they play for a living.
  
  Reply Report comment
BD

Feb 22, 2019 at 1:31 pm

Individuals cheating is bad enough. But much worse, and more damaging to the Int Egypt the game, is the collusion of the LPGA (and, in other examples, the PGAtour) in such cheating by failing to penalise such behaviour.

Reply Report comment
kirk brady

Feb 22, 2019 at 1:29 pm

Back stop – maybe
an object for lining up trying to make the chip – most likely – and no penalty there

When is the press going to stop creating controversies to get readers – between this and organizing the extortion of Kuchar, I think the sporting press deserves an enema and 10 mile run with full pack.

Reply Report comment
- TCJ
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 10:13 pm
  
  Nothing but clickbait these days.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dave

Feb 22, 2019 at 1:10 pm

Oh, it’s just the LPGA? Who cares, almost as irrelevant as the WNBA. Wish they would cut TV coverage of it entirely.

Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 2:42 pm
  
  Wow…a trumpster….
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Rick
    
    Feb 22, 2019 at 10:33 pm
    
    you’re an idiot
    
    Reply Report comment
- DougE
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 4:59 pm
  
  I care. I enjoy watching the LPGA and personally, I think those girls offer a great product. You wish you were 1/2 as good. But, I’m guessing you are not and probably never will be with such a poor attitude. Sorry, but misogyny is not attractive, nor does it make you better than women.
  
  What is your problem? LPGA golf is much closer to the kind of golf most of us can relate to. Evidently, you think it is beneath you. You will likely never have the game of a PGA Touring pro, so why not learn something from watching the girls. With some practice, you may even be able to make some of the shots they can make. I learn so much watching them. You might too if you gave them a chance. But hey, I’m just an old 5-6 handicapper, so what do I know?
  
  One thing I do know is that I’d bet on Ariya, or Lexi, every day of the week over betting on anyone who thinks the girls are irrelevant.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dave
    
    Feb 23, 2019 at 2:59 am
    
    You are of the minority demographic that enjoys LPGA and Champions Tour coverage, Doug. That’s not subjective, that’s fact. I know your feelings are hurt, but very few even care about LPGA and Champions.
    
    Sorry I’m not attractive to you, buddy.
    
    Reply Report comment
Mohamed

Feb 22, 2019 at 12:52 pm

The bigger question is – how do you prove intent. Also, both were playing off the green, so if they were 100yards away and this happened – what then?

Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 1:04 pm
  
  You’re right. The key word here is “intent”. If Amy intentionally asked for this, intentionally planning to try to hit the ball, then the penalty applies. If she was just ready to play and not wanting to wait and was not even expecting to hit the other’s ball, there is no intent.
  
  Due to the way the pair reacted, it was a celebration of luck!
  
  Reply Report comment
Jim

Feb 22, 2019 at 12:45 pm

They need to be penalized. Both were complicit once Ariya stutter stepped to NOT mark her ball and then the fist bump confirms the agreement.

Reply Report comment
Doug

Feb 22, 2019 at 12:41 pm

Tom is a tool. This is definitely cheating. Olson waived Ariya off for the very reason of backstopping. Ariya should be protecting the field. A fail for both sides. Disappointing that both tours are failing to uphold the integrity of the same.

Reply Report comment
Timothy Covey

Feb 22, 2019 at 12:38 pm

Stupid. What are the odds even if the plan was to hit the other ball that she would actually hit the other ball. If shes that good she should just chip it in the hole on every hole every time. Might as well cause you’d have to be that good. The fact that people are even upset let alone irate is just pure ignorance.

Reply Report comment
Mon

Feb 22, 2019 at 12:30 pm

It really did not look like she was doing it do use the ball. I think she was ready to hit and waved off the other player who was still standing off the green.

Reply Report comment
- joey5picks
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 3:59 pm
  
  The “other player” has the right, and responsibility, to mark her ball to protect the field. This was a perfect example of Olson gaining an advantage on the field.
  
  Reply Report comment
kevin

Feb 22, 2019 at 11:28 am

apparently as the lpga and pga continue to alter the rulebook, they forget to actually enforce the rules.

this is an embarrassment to the LPGA, and the other players should be calling this for what it is…cheating.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Feb 22, 2019 at 11:15 am

Not a big deal, few watch LPGA…

Reply Report comment
- snapjack
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 12:30 pm
  
  Only Tom could come up with that kind of answer. The normal retort is, why are you here then, but in this case I say to you Tom, GFY
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Tom
    
    Feb 22, 2019 at 1:48 pm
    
    Ohhhhhhh….snappy typing all tuff n sheet…..lol!
    
    Reply Report comment
- Dave
  
  Feb 22, 2019 at 1:13 pm
  
  Completely agree with you. I’m always annoyed when I turn to the Golf Channel at night to catch up on the PGA Tour highlights/coverage from earlier in the day, and we are forced to watch someone named Pornanong hit driver 235 in a tournament in Thailand.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Elmo
    
    Feb 23, 2019 at 10:22 am
    
    Racist too!
    
    Bring in religion and you’ve got the triple threat!
    
    Yeehaw KKK golf.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Full piece.

4. Harbour Town ahead

RBC Heritage field notes, via Adam Stanley of PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler is, for now, set to tee it up at the RBC Heritage. He was clear to say that if his wife, Meredith, would go into labor during the Masters, he would head home to be with her, so it’s safe to assume that same rule will stand at Harbour Town. Scheffler has not shot an over-par round all season and has three victories (and one runner-up). He made his debut at Harbour Town last year and finished T11… Matt Fitzpatrick looks to become the first golfer to go back-to-back at the RBC Heritage since Boo Weekley in 2007-08. Fitzpatrick, a playoff victor last year, has two top-10 finishes this season. He has just one missed cut at Harbour Town over the last six years and he finished fourth in 2021 to go along with two more top-15 results in a three-year span (T14 in 2018 and 2020)…”

“Jordan Spieth is hoping to continue his run of fine play at Harbour Town after a playoff loss last season and a playoff win the season prior. Spieth has five top-25 finishes at the RBC Heritage in seven starts… Justin Thomas earned a spot in the field after remaining in the top 30 (he’s No. 30) in the Official World Golf Ranking despite a missed cut at the Masters. Thomas, who finished T25 last season at Harbour Town, has two top 10s on the season… Ludvig Åberg, who is tops in the Aon Next 10, will head to Hilton Head for the first time. Åberg has had a fabulous 2024 campaign thus far with four top 10s (including two runner-up results) and is knocking on the door for a victory… Hideki Matsuyama was the only eligible player who did not commit to the RBC Heritage, while Viktor Hovland – after a missed cut at the Masters – withdrew from the field on Saturday.”

Full piece.

5. Reed’s caddie’s needle

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After a particularly bad drive during his third round on Saturday, Reed’s caddie, Kessler Karain, also his brother-in-law, made a snide but factual comment to Patrick.”

“Your driving has cost us a lot this week,” Karain remarked.

“Reed didn’t disagree and told reporters after the round that there was nothing good about his round…

“A reporter then asked: “It’s a good thing he’s a family member, right?”

“Yeah, exactly. I’d probably be dragging him up that last hole,” Reed said. “I swear.Just what you want to hear as you’re looking at the ball in the tree, and he goes, ‘You need to drive it better.’ Thanks, Kessler. I appreciate it. Great words of wisdom. Drive it better.”

“This may be the last major for Reed for a while, as the 33-year-old has not been invited nor qualified for next month’s PGA Championship.”

Full piece.

6. LIV wants Hovland next?

Ewan Murray for the Guardian…”Rising speculation that Viktor Hovland will be the next high-profile golfer to be coaxed to the LIV tour will increase the need for Ryder Cup Europe to apply a simple qualification process for golfers on the Saudi Arabian-backed circuit.”

“LIV is forging ahead with plans for 2025, which include new events and the recruitment of more players from the PGA and DP World Tours. The rate of turnover is likely to be increased by the number of golfers who had three-year contracts when joining LIV, which will expire at the end of 2024.”

“Chatter on the range at the LIV event in Miami this month and again at the Masters largely surrounded Hovland, the world No 6 who starred for Europe in the defeat of the United States in Rome last year. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who also played in that team, have subsequently joined LIV. Hovland missed the cut at the Masters and promptly withdrew from the PGA Tour’s $20m stop in Hilton Head this week.”

Full piece.

7. Rory’s management: LIV reports are ‘fake news’

Brian Keogh for the Irish Independent…”A report that Rory McIlroy was on the verge of an $850million move to LIV Golf has been slammed as “fake news” by his management.

“Fake news. Zero truth,” McIlroy’s manager Sean O’Flaherty said in an email.

London financial paper “City AM” reported today that sources have told them that McIlroy “could” join LIV Golf

The paper reported that “two separate sources have told City AM that they believe a deal is close. It is claimed that LIV Golf chiefs have offered world No2 McIlroy an eye-watering $850m to join, plus around two per cent equity in the competition.”

Full piece.