[HackBlack]

Originally Posted by JPsuff

So when the volunteer told her that she didn't sign her card, which was right after her round on Friday, why wasn't she asked about it or asked to "tell her side of the story" until after she teed off on Saturday? Does the volunteer operate in a vacuum? Does she not turn in the cards to someone? Could she not have told someone at "Rules Headquarters" that Michelle had not signed her card within the designated area?
The opportunity to have Michelle tell her side of the story existed from when this happened all the way up until her tee time on Saturday, so why did they wait until after she teed off to make an issue out of this?

I have no problem with rules, but in this case, Michelle simply forgot to do something that she's done automatically for years and the mistake was apparently corrected shortly after it occurred. No one was put at any disadvantage, no one lost their place in the standings and the scorecard she did sign was correct. Yet no one saw fit to address any of this until well into the next day and then when they finally got around to it, they DQ'd her.

Come on, will ya'? How does an organization like the LPGA not find the time to address this situation in a more timely manner than that?

Michelle got hosed, plain and simple. And if the LPGA or any other golf organization doesn't wish to have this happen again because someone - some human being innocently or absentmindedly forgot to do something completely irrelevant to anyone but him or herself, then make it a rule that no one can leave the scorer's tent until the scorer tells them they can.

But no, that would be too simple.


-JP

JP,
Have you ever attended a Professional Golfing event?
Have you ever been a Volunteer for a professional golfing event?

Volunteers are not experts on the Rules of Golf. They are people who enjoy the game, and want to spend a week on the golf course while the event is played. Most of the volunteer for a couple of days and get course access all week.

Some volunteers work the same event every years. Those with the most experience tend to to the more important jobs, as well as supervisings small groups of volunteers.

The people in charge of the scoring tent are not volunteers. They are LPGA officials. They have volunteers assisting them. In this case, it is my understanding that the volunteer who confronted Wie about the unsigned scorecard was a "Runner". I don't Runners are you most experienced, most knowledgable volunteers. He/She RAN the card to Wie. Asked her to sign it. Then he/she RAN back to turn in the card. NOW, I would question that the person in charge of the scoring tent, who is not a volunteer, had to have know that the volunteer went out to get Wie's signature. I would like the think the Scoring Tent boss would be familiar with Rule 6.6 as well as additional details related to LPGA requirements.

As far as the actual tournament golf, Wie did not get hosed. She broke the rules. She was DQ'ed. Welcome to tournament golf.

IMO, she did get hosed regarding the LPGA's handling of the entire situation related to how/when it was presented to the media/public.