Lexi Thompson loses ANA Inspiration after viewer tip leads to four-stroke penalty

A bizarre and completely ridiculous situation led to Lexi Thompson finishing as the runner-up instead of the champion at the ANA Inspiration, one of the LPGA’s five majors.

Thompson was assessed a four-shot penalty on Sunday for replacing her ball in an improper spot at the 17th hole, before she made a one-foot putt. She was given a two-stroke penalty for moving the ball and a two-stroke penalty for signing an incorrect scorecard.

However, the infraction took place in the third round on Saturday, and Thompson wasn’t even told about the four-stroke penalty until after she completed the 12th hole during Sunday’s final round. A two-shot lead (at 16-under) after the 12th hole immediately turned into a two-shot deficit for Thompson.

And here’s where the story gets even more absurd: the tournament officials were alerted about the infraction thanks to a TV viewer’s email tip! For real.

Lexi Thompson was assessed a 4-shot penalty for an incorrect marking of a ball and signing an incorrect card yesterday at #ANAInspiration pic.twitter.com/6pNJ5haql9

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 3, 2017

Our statement regarding Lexi Thompson penalty. pic.twitter.com/bQrlIFrebQ

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 3, 2017

Thompson would still manage to force a playoff with against So Yeon Ryu, but lost on the first hole of the sudden-death format.

So, let’s recap:

1. Thompson was given a four-stroke penalty for something that happened the day before.
2. She wasn’t even alerted about the penalty until she was nearly done with the tournament, and while she had a two-shot lead.
3. The tournament officials didn’t even notice the infraction until a TV viewer emailed them.

What a great way to decide a major! Whether or not it should’ve been a penalty is ultimately beside the point. Once we moved on to Sunday, we moved on to Sunday. And a tip from some rando watching on TV should especially not change the previous day’s results.

Thompson was understandably very emotional after the finish:

There has been plenty of reaction to this story from golfers, media members, and celebrities:

Viewers at home should not be officials wearing stripes. Let's go @Lexi, win this thing anyway.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 3, 2017

https://twitter.com/jtimberlake/status/848722422870065152

As we said on @GolfCentral: an official dedicated to watching broadcast should be the only one who can use tv to detect an infraction.

— MikeTirico (@miketirico) April 3, 2017

Thanks @lpga @GolfChannel team for a great week.

This joins VanDeVelde & FailMary as most bizarre I've called.

So much respect for @Lexi

— MikeTirico (@miketirico) April 3, 2017

Shame on the @LPGA for giving @Lexi a 4 stroke penalty for a moved ball yesterday on the 17th hole. Do it yesterday not today. No more.

— Alfonso Ribeiro (@alfonso_ribeiro) April 2, 2017

Viewers should not be able to call in rulings.

— Cheyenne Woods (@Cheyenne_Woods) April 2, 2017

Who's watching what is happening to @Lexi @LPGA? Can't believe this is happening. A viewers calls in a rule a day late or ever…. Not right

— Natalie Gulbis (@natalie_gulbis) April 3, 2017

https://twitter.com/JustinThomas34/status/848690652649009152

Four stroke penalty for something that happened yesterday?! Go home golf rules, you're drunk.

— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) April 3, 2017

Infuriated w @Lexi ruling. Who intentionally seeks an inch on a tap in. TV viewers need a day job or have no effect on our system.

— Alison Walshe (@Walsheyyy) April 3, 2017

Feeling for Lexi…some things in sports just don't make sense. Unreal fortitude shown. Heart of a champion.

— Zach Johnson (@ZachJohnsonPGA) April 3, 2017

Absurd ruling situation #ANAInspiration @GolfChannel
A great event show casing best players in world thrown into ruins. No phone in rulings

— Martin Hall (@martinhallGC) April 3, 2017

https://twitter.com/PeterUihlein/status/848686088445202436

That rule is broken every time a ball is marked

— Paul Goydos (@PaulGoydosPGA) April 3, 2017

And I thought ESPN’s John Anderson really nailed it on SportsCenter:

[Golf Channel; ESPN]