Schlottke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)—Michelle Wie finished the third round of the State Farm Classic alone in second on Saturday—then was disqualified for failing to immediately sign her scorecard a day earlier.
Wie was playing her best golf of the year, finishing off a 5-under 67 to get to 17 under for the tournament, one stroke back of Yani Tseng.
That’s when Wie was disqualified by LPGA officials, who said they’d learned during play Saturday from tournament volunteers about the 18-year-old’s mistake.
“I don’t know why or how it happened,” said Wie, who had been crying moments earlier. She took no questions before leaving the clubhouse at Panther Creek Country Club.
Sue Witters, the LPGA’s director of tournament competitions, disqualified Wie in a small office in an LPGA trailer at the golf course after asking her what had happened.

“She was like a little kid after you tell them there’s no Santa Claus,” Witters said.
Wie said that after she finished her round on Friday, she left the tent where players sign their scorecards and was chased down by some of the tournament volunteers working in the tent who pointed out she hadn’t signed.
Wie returned to the tent and signed the card.
“I thought it would be OK,” she said.
But Wie, according to Witters, had already walked outside the roped-off area around the tent. At that point, the mistake was final.
Witters said she and other tour officials didn’t learn about the error from volunteers until well after Wie teed off Saturday. They let her finish the round, then took her to the office where she and her caddy, Tim Vickers, were informed of the ruling.
Wie, who is playing a part-time schedule while attending Stanford, opened with a 5-under 67 and followed with rounds of 65 and 67—though the last two won’t count.
It’s not he first time a mistake has cost Wie, either. She was in fourth place during the third round of the 2005 Samsung World Championship—her professional debut—when she was disqualified for taking an improper drop.
Tseng shot a 6-under-par 66 on Saturday to snatch the lead from Christin Kim, who entered the day atop the leader board. Tseng is 18 under for the tournament, and didn’t bogey a hole while sinking four birdies and an eagle.
Kim shot a disappointing 73, finishing the day in a tie for eighth place, six behind Tseng.
With Wie’s disqualification, Katie Futcher finished the day in third place at 16 under. She shot 66 on Saturday.

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Schlottke

I'd want to hit this Witters after this... (although after reading the article I could actually see Witters telling kids there was no santa for fun)

“She was like a little kid after you tell them there’s no Santa Claus,” Witters said. *really a professional way to describe one of your players...

and then...

Witters said she and other tour officials didn’t learn about the error from volunteers until well after Wie teed off Saturday. They let her finish the round, then took her to the office where she and her caddy, Tim Vickers, were informed of the ruling.

Did they really "let her finish"... how nice of them..

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RYou

Obviously the tour volunteers did not know there was a violation and therefore didn't tell the director.

Letting her finish the round was better than yanking off course don't you think.

I haven't of a faux pax as big as that since Roberto DeVincenzo signed a scorecard with a 4 instead of birdie 3 and it cost him a tie and playoff at the '68 Masters.

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19-0 ? Hell No ! 18 Wins and 1 GIANT Loss !

r.payton@att.net

Lee Trevino once said ''the rules of golf should fit on a matchbook cover ''-Wie could walk away today and have earned more in endorsements and prize money than any -most =-of us would ever see -with Annika gone she is the future of women's golf .I mean no disrespect by that comment but who can name 5 of the top 100 players ?
She broke the rules but this entire incident was as classless as when Vijay accused Phil Mickleson of having longer than allowed spikes .

therick

Natalie Gulbis seems to be making some good money from sky caddie and a few of her other endorsements.

Paula Creamer is the future of American women's golf, because she has actually won a tournament. Something that Wie hasn't done in years.

Lorena Ochoa is dominating similar to the way Annika was in her prime.

There are 10 girls with the last name Park from Korea who are all very good.

Se Ri Pak is still pretty young and she's already a hall of famer.

Grace Park is another with huge talent who was well known while she was still playing for ASU.

The women's game doesn't need Michelle Wie as much as Michelle needs the LPGA. Until she wins something, I'll keep watching the women who can actually put it together for 72 holes.

RYou

I can't beleive the drives Ochoa cranks out for her size. She must load up 60oz of weight in the driver.

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19-0 ? Hell No ! 18 Wins and 1 GIANT Loss !

therick

Not only that, but Ochoa has the complete game. Long off the tee and crazy acurate irons. She's at 76.5% greens in regulation. That's incredible. The best man in golf is Briny Baird at 70.23 GIR. She's only about 15 yards behind the men's tour average in driving distance.