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A18 her heartbreak. “I wasn’t ing three birdies and a bo-
expecting what happened gey on the final six holes of
SPORTSTuesday 4 April 2017 today, but ... it happens, regulation at Mission Hills
and I’ll learn from it and Country Club.
ANA hopefully do better.” “It’s unfortunate what hap-
Inspiration The fateful email arrived pened,” Thompson said. “I
during Sunday’s final round, did not mean that at all. I
Continued from Page 17 alerting officials to the vio- didn’t realize I did that. I felt
lation committed Saturday. strong through the finish,
But So Yeon Ryu managed Lexi Thompson reacts after missing an eagle putt on the 18th Thompson marked a 1-foot and it was great to see the
to take advantage of the hole that would have won the LPGA Tour’s ANA Inspiration golf putt with a coin on the fans behind me.”
break created by Thomp- tournament at Mission Hills Country Club, in Rancho Mirage, Ca- 17th green during her third Golf fans on the course and
son’s extraordinary pen- lif., Sunday, April 2, 2017. round, but she replaced the internet reacted with
alty. the ball perhaps 1 inch out bewilderment and outrage
Ryu birdied the playoff Associated Press of position. when the LPGA’s decision
hole to win the LPGA Tour’s After an extensive video became understood. Tiger
first major of the year Sun- review , Thompson was pe- Woods immediately came
day after Thompson was nalized two strokes for an to Thompson’s defense on
blindsided for an infraction incorrect ball placement Twitter. “Viewers at home
she had accidentally com- and two strokes for an in- should not be officials
mitted 24 hours earlier. correct scorecard. Witters wearing stripes,” Woods
Thompson, the 22-year- regretfully explained the wrote . “Let’s go @Lexi, win
old U.S. Olympian who penalty to Thompson. this thing anyway.”
won here in 2014, was left “I can’t go to bed tonight Most golfersweighing inon
stunned by the decision knowing I let a rule slide,” Twitter didn’t disagree with
that stopped her from Witters said. “It’s a hard the ruling, but condemned
cruising to what looked thing to do, and it made the practice of allowing TV
like an easy victory. The rul- me sick, to be honest with viewers to have their say —
ing cost her more than a you.” particularly an entire day
strong chance at her sec- Thompson fought back afterward.
ond major title: Ryu won tears after getting the Even Justin Timberlake saw
$405,000 with the victory, news, but she incredibly it : “@Lexi is SO CLASSY.
and Thompson went home birdied the 13th hole. She Handled that with grace
with just over $250,000 in battled back into a five- and fight. Career defining
second place. way tie for the lead, mak- moment.”q
“Every day is a learning
process,” said Thompson,
who still stopped to sign
dozens of autographs after
