Chella Choi Cheating. What is the LPGA doing about it?

[Valleygolfer]

When a rule requires a player to replace a ball, it must be replaced on the same spot from which it was lifted.  Where the mark is placed is not specified under the rule.  What Choi did was so blatant that it boggles my mind.  Her casual attitude toward this action just confirms her intent to change the line of her putt, yet it's as if she somehow thought that there was nothing wrong with that.  Has she never heard of the penalties handed out for a ball that moves just 1/16 of an inch?  Crazy. Then Judy Rankin getting all PC about it.  Bull!  She is in a position of being a semi-reporter, yet she tries to excuse it as an honest mistake.  More bull!  I really think that the LPGA is in such dire straits that they thought it would be best if the incident just quietly went away.  Instead they are going to be hurt far more if they continue to simply ignore it.  They need to act or the entire Tour gets a black eye from it.

It is weird because Rankin is usually pretty negative on the players.

[Aguirre]

It is weird because Rankin is usually pretty negative on the players.

It seems obvious she has developed a personal relationship with this player I've never heard of until today and it's affecting her judgement.  We need to get Dottie Pepper back in the game, screaming about choking freakin dogs.

[Hammer 4]

When a rule requires a player to replace a ball, it must be replaced on the same spot from which it was lifted.  Where the mark is placed is not specified under the rule.  What Choi did was so blatant that it boggles my mind.  Her casual attitude toward this action just confirms her intent to change the line of her putt, yet it's as if she somehow thought that there was nothing wrong with that.  Has she never heard of the penalties handed out for a ball that moves just 1/16 of an inch?  Crazy.

Then Judy Rankin getting all PC about it.  Bull!  She is in a position of being a semi-reporter, yet she tries to excuse it as an honest mistake.  More bull!  I really think that the LPGA is in such dire straits that they thought it would be best if the incident just quietly went away.  Instead they are going to be hurt far more if they continue to simply ignore it.  They need to act or the entire Tour gets a black eye from it.

This ^^^^^^ especially the last paragraph.

[bjfox10]

Wow. She should be suspended immediately. The WD should be changed to a DQ. Isn't it a rule that you have to provide a medical reason?

"Suspended?! Kick her off the tour Doug!" Sorry I was way off topic but I couldn't help myself.

[inthehole]

I know improperly marking a ball is a big deal, but sheesh ... seems a tad over-reaction from the gallery here.    Good thing there's not a gallows in the background ...

[billchao]

I know improperly marking a ball is a big deal, but sheesh ... seems a tad over-reaction from the gallery here.    Good thing there's not a gallows in the background ...

I'm not sure it's the improper placement of the ball that's the issue, but her reaction to the penalty that really draws people's ire. Most people will accept the 2-stroke penalty because they will accept they did something wrong. She refused, was defiant about it, and then WD from the event. Her behavior indicates that she believes she did nothing wrong and what she did is perfectly acceptable, even though it is clearly against the Rules of Golf.

This game holds integrity in the highest esteem. Dishonesty violates the spirit of golf at it's core.

[Golfingdad]

I know improperly marking a ball is a big deal, but sheesh ... seems a tad over-reaction from the gallery here.    Good thing there's not a gallows in the background ...

Have you watched the video?  It's not as simple as an "improper mark" or "improper replacement."  It was how she went about it.  There was really no reason for her to even bother marking it other than to move it.  And more importantly ...

I'm not sure it's the improper placement of the ball that's the issue, but her reaction to the penalty that really draws people's ire. Most people will accept the 2-stroke penalty because they will accept they did something wrong. She refused, was defiant about it, and then WD from the event. Her behavior indicates that she believes she did nothing wrong and what she did is perfectly acceptable, even though it is clearly against the Rules of Golf.

This game holds integrity in the highest esteem. Dishonesty violates the spirit of golf at it's core.

Exactly.

[Ernest Jones]

I know improperly marking a ball is a big deal, but sheesh ... seems a tad over-reaction from the gallery here.    Good thing there's not a gallows in the background ...

Accidentally improperly marking your ball will get you a penalty and absolutely no grief from me. Stuff happens, pay attention. Intentionally improperly marking your ball to obtain a calculated advantage over your competitors OTOH...well...let's just keep it civil and stick with Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater.

[tristanhilton85]

I almost did the same thing last Saturday (well sort of the same).

I was going to mark my ball that was in somebody's line and I asked him if the mark was going to be in his way.

He said "just mark it on the left side and it will be alright."

After he putted and missed and then finished I started to put my ball down as if I had marked behind the ball like I normally do. Caught myself at the last minute.

Whew! I'm glad I caught it because I would have hated to be a low life, cheating, scum bag.

I would like to hear what her explanation is. If there is a spike mark the explanation is obvious and she cheated. If there isn't a spike mark I don't know what to think because nothing would make sense.

You really can't think that those are close to the same thing. You marked yours, moved it at the request of another golfer, and some time after that almost forgot to move it back. Choi on the other hand moved her ball to a completely different position in a matter of seconds. You had a brain fart (almost), she cheated.

[Lihu]

You really can't think that those are close to the same thing. You marked yours, moved it at the request of another golfer, and some time after that almost forgot to move it back. Choi on the other hand moved her ball to a completely different position in a matter of seconds. You had a brain fart (almost), she cheated.

It seems like we've had a lot of threads about cheating pros lately, is it that they all regularly cheat (subconscious or not) and that HD is catching more of them doing it?

Still, I keep asking myself why would she intentionally cheat for what amounts to no game advantage and risk getting caught on video doing it?

If all of my local golfers were videoed in HD I wonder if the ones that currently "cheat" would continue using bifurcated rules and foot wedges to get out of trouble "automatically"?

[Fourputt]

I know improperly marking a ball is a big deal, but sheesh ... seems a tad over-reaction from the gallery here.    Good thing there's not a gallows in the background ...

The biggest difference between golf and most other sports is the honesty and integrity of its participants.  When a professional golfer ignores a rule in such a cavalier fashion then yes, it is a big deal.  The way that Judy Rankin glossed it over, and the apparent disinterest by the tour seems to condone her actions, and to any real golfer, that just exacerbates the infraction.  The only over-reaction I saw was, as usual, by Shorty.

[Shorty]

They bring shorty in to call you a low life scumbag until you break down in tears and admit that you moved the ball off that root.

No, they get Aguirre to let everybody off. He'll buy any excuse no matter how lame or dishonest. Cheating will become a thing of the past with no stigma attached to it.

Not exactly the Aguirre in the film, are you, Aguirre?  You're a pushover.

[Shorty]

I know improperly marking a ball is a big deal, but sheesh ... seems a tad over-reaction from the gallery here.    Good thing there's not a gallows in the background ...

Why don't you read the actual thread? It has very little to do with improperly marking a ball.

[David in FL]

Why don't you read the actual thread? It has very little to do with improperly marking a ball.

In fact, she didn't even mark her ball improperly at all. The mark was a bit, let's call it non-standard , but conformed to the rules nonetheless.

[billchao]

Still, I keep asking myself why would she intentionally cheat for what amounts to no game advantage and risk getting caught on video doing it?

Some behaviors defy logic. What matters is that she did it and it seems like it will go unpunished. That definitely sends the wrong message.

[inthehole]

Playing devils advocate ... in the odd case that she actually didn't do it on purpose, maybe she just has a temper and was PISSED, which is why she did what she did. That's the only excuse I can think of as to why she WD - she probably said to herself f*** this, I'm outa here. Just a guess ...

[billchao]

Playing devils advocate ... in the odd case that she actually didn't do it on purpose, maybe she just has a temper and was PISSED, which is why she did what she did. That's the only excuse I can think of as to why she WD - she probably said to herself f*** this, I'm outa here. Just a guess ...

I'm not sure that situation applies. She was shown the video which clearly indicates she did not replace the ball in the same spot. It's clearly a 2-stroke penalty. I don't understand on what grounds she could argue that it's not and refuse to accept the penalty. Her intent isn't even relevant.

[MS256]

I'm not sure that situation applies. She was shown the video which clearly indicates she did not replace the ball in the same spot. It's clearly a 2-stroke penalty. I don't understand on what grounds she could argue that it's not and refuse to accept the penalty. Her intent isn't even relevant.

That's why I would like to hear what she has to say about it. I'm 99.999% sure that nothing she says would change my opinion about it but it would be interesting to hear her fumble around for a plausible explanation.