Lexi Thompson lucky to escape rules punishment in AIG Women’s Open

R&A determine American didn’t improve lie in first round at Royal Troon

Lexi Thompson was lucky to escape rules punishment. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty

American Lexi Thompson was cleared of a potential rules infringement during the first round of the AIG Women’s Open despite TV pictures painting her in a bad light.

The world No 10 was addressing a shot at the par-5 16th when she used her club to brush away a tuft of wiry grass next to the ball.

The incident was immediately spotted by David Rickman, the chief referee, as he watched the TV coverage and he was waiting for Thompson as she came off the 18th green on Thursday evening.

However, after determining she had not broken the rules as the pictures also showed she hadn’t actually improved her lie due to the grass springing straight back to its original position, Thompson, pictured, escaped punishment.

A statement from the R&A read: “Yesterday, as part of its normal TV review procedures, the R&A viewed Lexi Thompson’s actions prior to playing her second shot at the 16th hole in round one of the AIG Women’s Open.

“Following a discussion between chief referee David Rickman and the player prior to signing her scorecard, it was determined that, although the player had moved a growing natural object behind her ball, it had returned to its original position. Therefore, the lie of the ball was not improved and there was no breach of Rule 8.1.” That states a golfer should “play the course as you find it” and states that a player “must not move, bend or break a growing or attached natural object”.

Thompson, who followed an opening 78 with a 75 to be heading for an early exit on 11-over, is no stranger to being in the spotlight over rule issues. In the 2017 ANA Inspiration, another of the women’s majors, she was penalised two shots for incorrectly replacing a marked ball in the third round after a TV viewer spotted the incident and reported it to LPGA Tour officials.

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