Yuko Mitsuka fined after slow play

[Shindig]

The title (which is also part of the ESPN article: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=5183114 ) is a little misleading.

The LPGA of Japan has fined a player $21,500. Yuko Mitsuka was given a 2-stroke penalty for slow play. I haven't more details on the cause of this yet, but she withdrew from the tournament - leaving in the middle of the round - in protest. She was then given the fine. In protest, she withdrew from that tournament and 11 others .

[colin007]

hahaha!!! nice, thats a riot...what a nut. i need those officials to come to my course and fine the slow players...

[microcrayfish]

The story I read about the incident gave the impression that her withdrawing from 11 other tournaments was a self imposed punishment for acting like a 6 year old and walking out in the middle of her round - not as a protest for the fine.

This was a comment made by Hideaki Otani a Tour official:
"The player offered to withdraw from those tournaments and the tour accepted that as the right punishment."

Personally, I think it's good that the Japanese LPGA are actually doing something about pros who take forever to play instead of letting them take all the time they want and simply "putting them on the clock" and not ever actually doing anything.

[colin007]

ok, i totally misunderstood that. regardless, if thats really the deal then i think thats a little extreme. fine her, but she doesnt need to take off the next 11 tournaments...thats her living...

as for the guys, yeah, ben crane, sean ohair - they need to get fined/penalized.

[Shindig]

The

I hadn't seen that. I guess that makes ... some sense. It's effectively a long voluntary suspension, from beyond their own tour, so maybe a bit extreme... but... I'm glad to see a player show some remorse for leaving a round in protest.