“When did (the players) know?”

Beth Ann Baldry tries to clarify the events surrounding last Thursday's LPGA DQ and it sounds complicated.

Comments

[Wayne]

So did she autograph the ball before or after she signed her card? This is confusing. If it was before, then she would have known about the switch prior to being informed by the caddie. And if it was after, why autograph the wrong ball? In other words, did her knowledge of the switch come from the caddie or from signing her autograph on the ball?

[Brian Sullivan]

Right. I think the answer to the question can be found if we know what they were DQ'ed for: playing the wrong ball, or signing an incorrect scorecard. If the latter, then they didn't fess up until after the scorecard. My guess is the ball was signed right after the 18th, and before the score-tent.

[Ringer]

My two questions about Baldry's account: (1) The caddie didn't "know the consequences" of playing a wrong ball? Even if he didn't know the exact procedure, how could he think it didn't matter? Strains credulity. (2) The player didn't notice on the green that the word "Titleist" wasn't colored in on her ball? That's a good-sized thing not to notice.

[kafka01]

You guys see where this is going? Blame it on the caddie - thats the easiest way out....

I played a wrong ball a couple weeks ago out of the rough, same number/same brand - the second i lined it up on the putting green i realized it that this is not my ball. And i didnt even mark my ball any special way. So when you really trying to tell me, that you can identfiy an incorrect ball when its indiviually marked, i call BS.

[Taffy]

I might be able to accept that one of the players did not realize it wasn't their ball but both? No way. One of them knew they played the wrong ball when they got on the green, at least. I would vote on the side that both did.
Reminds me of the time a guy hacked his ball out of the junk onto the green, holed out and said He made par. I saw the ball. It was a Blue Max that hadn't been made in years, plus guy had been playing Titleist! Golf can bring out the worst in all of us.

[Old Hornet]

kafka01 is correct, they're hoping to:
a) Avoid having to grow a set over a rules infraction.
b) Dodge the PC racist arrow.
c) Deflect attention away from an apparent on-going problem.

The caddie doesn't have to worry, he's on solid ground. You never have to accept the consequences for your actions......eveyone is a victim these days.

[Walter]

It was just a matter of time. These Korean players, other Korean players, and caddy accomplices have a lot of explaining to do. As do non-cheaters who saw something and didn't report it in timely fashion. This apparent widespread cheating is akin to the Black Sox scandal. The LPGA must sweep the floor clean and make a big enough example, so it will not repeat.

[F. X. Flinn]

A caddie who doesn't know the wrong-ball rule? OK. A caddie who says nothing about a ball that isn't his player's ball? WTF? A story that puts the onus on the caddie instead of the players? Priceless.