Rules refresher could come in Nick of time

LONDON - British golf legend Nick Faldo believes players need to be "brought up to speed" on the sport's complicated rulebook to avoid any repeat of the rows that have blighted recent major championships.

The latest high-profile incident came earlier this month when Lexi Thompson of the United States, who was leading by three shots in the final round of the ANA Inspiration, the first women's major of the year, was given a four-shot penalty for an incident that took place the previous day.

Thompson had improperly replaced her ball for a one-foot putt during the third round, but the indiscretion only came to light after a television viewer emailed officials, who then imposed the penalty while Thompson was on the course in Rancho Mirage, California.

Thompson was found to have incorrectly replaced her ball after marking it on the 17th green, a violation only spotted clearly by a zoom lens and slow-motion video.

She was issued a two-stroke penalty for the ball violation and another two-stroke penalty for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Thompson, who had been leading, was told of the situation after finishing the 12th hole in the final round.

She fought back to force a playoff but lost to South Korea's Ryu So-yeon.

Male stars such as Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler came to Thompson's defense, with both players saying the word of television viewers should not lead to players being penalized.

They believe decisions on rule infractions should ultimately be a matter for the extensive team of officials who preside over any major tournament.

This week could see both the R&A (Royal and Ancient) and the United States Golf Association, the sport's two rule-making bodies, announce changes that mean no retrospective penalties can be added after a scorecard has been signed, with rules chiefs told to take no account of any messages from the watching public.

"The players need to go to a rules seminar," Faldo, 59, said during a teleconference on Monday to promote this year's British Open.

"There's probably only two dozen rules that affect play on Tour. Players have to be brought up to speed and the caddies need to know the rules as well."

As for television viewers snitching on players, three-time Open champion and six-time major winner Faldo said: "The problem you have is that if you are out at 8 am and there are no cameras on you and you go out at 4 pm, the rules are different.

"You can break the same rule at two different times, one on television and one not on television, and you're getting a different ruling."

The British Open, which was won by Sweden's Henrik Stenson last year, takes place at Royal Birkdale in Southport, near Liverpool, from July 20-23.

Agence France-Presse