Questions have been raised over whether players in the same group held a “discussion” about how to play a shot during the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour’s HiteJinro Championship.
A video posted on YouTube on the 4th by SBS Golf, the tournament’s host broadcaster, titled “Caddies and players all gathered for a discussion mid-round? What is the best way to get Seo Eo-jin’s ball out?!” shows Seo Eo-jin, Park Bo-gyeom, Lee Seung-yeon and their caddies gathered together, appearing to consult over Seo’s play.
The scene in question took place on the 18th hole, a par 5, during the second round at Blue Heron Golf Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, on the 2nd. Seo’s third shot landed in the rough beside the green. A large rock sat next to her ball, leaving her unable to take a normal stance. After consulting her caddie, Seo decided to play toward the scoreboard beside the green, in the opposite direction from the flagstick. “Play that way, and if your backswing is obstructed, you can take relief,” the caddie said.
As Seo was preparing to play, Park Bo-gyeom, who had been watching from the green, walked over and said something. Her words are not clearly audible in the video. After hearing Park, Seo said, “But if I declare an unplayable ball here, then this way…” Park then moved to the expected drop point, gestured and said, “It doesn’t get any closer.” Lee Seung-yeon and the caddies then all gathered at the spot where Seo’s ball lay and talked it over.
Seo ultimately declared an unplayable ball, took relief and put her fifth shot on the green, finishing with a one-putt bogey.
Some viewers who saw the scene left comments asking whether the players had breached the “advice” rule. Any exchange of words that helps a player in making a stroke counts as advice. A player must not give advice to anyone in the competition, nor ask anyone other than their own caddie for advice (Rule 10.2a). A breach carries the general penalty, which in stroke play is two strokes.
If a breach did occur, the competition committee can still impose a penalty on the players even after the round has ended, as long as the competition has not been closed.
#KLPGA#HiteJinro#GolfRules#AdviceRule#UnplayableBall#WomensGolf
Original reporting by Kim Se-young for Seoul Economic Daily.
AI-translated from Korean. Quotes from foreign sources are based on Korean-language reports and may not reflect exact original wording.
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