Rickochet
Just assuming, but you're probably referencing the USGA's rule change (18/4), which was instituted shortly following the situation with Tiger's ball moving in the 2013 BMW Championship. "Where enhanced technological evidence shows that a ball has left its original position and come to rest in another location, the ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time."
Obviously this rule really didn't apply to Lexi replacing her ball in the wrong spot.
I'm not in favor of changing the rules simply because of the perceived harsh nature of the penalty, per say. Especially when it involves a penalty due to the most basic, understood responsibility of a playing competitor. But in these rare instances when a player has unknowingly broken a rule, and it isn't brought to light prior to the conclusion of the round (versus prior to the conclusion of the competition) - it doesn't seem equitable to further penalize the player an additional 2 strokes for signing an incorrect scorecard.
The argument from some might be, "Well, in the past she would've automatically been DQ'd, so she's getting a break really."
I don't agree. And Lexi's situation is precisely why I don't agree, because there needs to be some measurement of common sense when applying penalties in these type situations, otherwise it changes the entire outcome of the tournament when this type of information is presented to the offending player during play of the next round.
The 2 strokes for replacing her ball improperly isn't an issue. She clearly didn't replace the ball anywhere near where its original position was prior to marking. The issue is that it took 24 hours for that information to be processed and relayed to the player, AFTER the conclusion of the round in which the infraction took place.
The issue(s) are that the scrutiny that only a handful of players experience because of televised coverage focusing mainly on them isn't equitable as it relates to the remainder of the field, and viewers who call in/email and report what they feel are unrecognized infractions might not be processed in a timely manner as it relates to the overall integrity of the competition.
In other words, either cover every player in the field via television or don't respond to calls/emails until the competition is closed. This really isn't that complicated.
But as it relates to Lexi - she goofed. And she probably goofed unknowingly, unintentionally... but on that same token - how distracted can someone be to not remember precisely the position of the marker behind the ball from literally 30 seconds earlier? It would be unfair to assume she needed a 1-inch advantage, either way, on a putt of such a short, trivial length, but she clearly didn't replace the ball in its original spot.
2 strokes - yes.
4 strokes - unfathomable.
