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