Golf dreams dashed: Thailand’s rising star disqualified from US Women’s Open after 5-hole fiasco

[snoop1130]

 

Thailand‘s Natthakritta Vongtaveelap endured a brief appearance at the US Women’s Open after the precocious golf star was disqualified after completing just five holes. The disqualification yesterday came as a result of her caddie using a rangefinder, which violated the local golf rule implemented for the championship, prohibiting the use of distance-measuring devices.

 

While a single breach would have incurred a two-shot penalty for the professional golfer, a second violation led to her disqualification. At the time, the 20 year old was even-par.

 

The caddie’s potential confusion could be attributed to the allowance of distance-measuring devices in LPGA Tour events. Moreover, players were permitted to use them in the Chevron Championship and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the first two women’s majors of the year.

 

Starting in 2021, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, in collaboration with Voice Caddie, provided each player with a rangefinder featuring a special competition mode solely for measuring distances.

 

Notably, the only two majors that prohibit the use of rangefinders are the US Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s Open, reported Golf Digest.

 

By Bob Scott

Caption: Picture courtesy of IPGA

 

#news

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/golf-dreams-dashed-thailands-rising-star-disqualified-from-us-womens-open-after-5-hole-fiasco

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-07

 

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[topt]

Time for a new caddie methinks........

[bkk6060]

Time for her to blame herself.  She as the boss, should be checking and double checking the rules very irresponsible of her.

Edited July 7, 2023 by bkk6060

[steven100]

haha .... serves her right .....  in professional golf she should know all the rules.   It's not Thailand love ......  haha

[BenStark]

Oh this topic will be a heaven for the AN Thai bashers.

 

 

[dingdongrb]

A good golfer would never need to use a range finder.

[Elkski]

Well obviously you can't hide using one.  Did they warm her after the first time?  Life's a b then you die.   I'm sure she is going to learn the lesson.  You would think there would be a sign at the tee box of every hole

[Mr Meeseeks]

A cheat and deservedly disqualified. 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Notably, the only two majors that prohibit the use of rangefinders are the US Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s Open

No ambiguity then.

[cncltd1973]

if men can't use range finders then why can women? are they handicapped in estimating distance?

[Skeptic7]

The devices are mostly permitted in ladies golf since 2021, but not at all tournaments. Also LPGA, USGA and R&A are not consistent and in agreement on their use. Too bad for sure, but they (golfer and caddie are a team) need to be privy to the rules of the different golf associations and individual tournament rules.

 

A tough lesson learned the hard way and presumably she/they won't make this mistake again. 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Skeptic7

[jacko45k]

4 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

A tough lesson learned the hard way and presumably she/they won't make this mistake again. 

Odd that they made it twice in this one event.

[pomchop]

Could it be that the rules were all in english and neither she nor caddy could read all that fine print or understand it?

 

How would some of the bashers on here do in a Thai golf tourney if all the rules/deviations were written in Thai.....so i guess overall to be safe better have a caddy and a translator?

[Skipalongcassidy]

2 minutes ago, pomchop said:

Could it be that the rules were all in english and neither she nor caddy could read all that fine print or understand it?

 

How would some of the bashers on here do in a Thai golf tourney if all the rules/deviations were written in Thai.....so i guess overall to be safe better have a caddy and a translator?

I would simply read the rules using a translate app... after all I am a professional and that's part of being so.

[jacko45k]

4 minutes ago, pomchop said:

Could it be that the rules were all in english and neither she nor caddy could read all that fine print or understand it?

 

How would some of the bashers on here do in a Thai golf tourney if all the rules/deviations were written in Thai.....so i guess overall to be safe better have a caddy and a translator?

South Korean and Chinese players seem to have handled it......

[Twod0gs]

11 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

A good golfer would never need to use a range finder.

What's your handicap Tiger ?

[Twod0gs]

51 minutes ago, cncltd1973 said:

if men can't use range finders then why can women? are they handicapped in estimating distance?

They can in many events.

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Twod0gs said:

They can in many events.

Where will it end... will they measure wind speed, temperature and humidity too? Or has sticking a sucked finger in the air been banned too?

Edited July 8, 2023 by jacko45k

[Skeptic7]

41 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Odd that they made it twice in this one event.

Unless they weren't notified until the DQ. Seems the officials were notified of multiple infringements all at once. Otherwise, yes...would be blatant cheating...which seems unlikely. In golf, TV viewers many times report rules infringements they see that officials don't. Then vids are reviewed. If it's determined to be correct info... penalties are assessed, including DQ. Ignorance of the rules doesn't matter. 

 

This is excerpted from Golf Monthly

 

Vongtaveelap was even par through five holes but was not allowed to continue after USGA officials found that her caddie, Jinsup Kim, had used a rangefinder on multiple occasions. 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Skeptic7

[2baht]

13 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Time for her to blame herself.

Locals would NEVER do that! It's always someone else's fault!

[Skeptic7]

7 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Where will it end... will they measure wind speed, temperature and humidity too? Or has sticking a sucked finger in the air been banned too?

Currently ONLY distance is permitted. Any other info other than distance is a breach of the rules. 

 

The golfers are only allowed to use the laser rangefinders to measure the distance. They are not permitted to use the equipment to calculate the true distance when playing on the slope.

Golfers are also not allowed to measure wind or use the device to compute other data in its capacity during the competitive game.

 

Rule 4.3a (1) Distance and Directional Information.

 

Allowed: Getting information on distance or direction (such as from a distance-measuring device or compass).

 

Not Allowed: Measuring elevation changes, or Interpreting distance or directional information (such as using a device to get a recommended line of play or club selection based on the location of the player's ball).

[stoner]

22 minutes ago, Twod0gs said:

What's your handicap Tiger ?

at one point i was hovering between 5 and 6. 

 

you ? 

[stoner]

12 hours ago, BenStark said:

Oh this topic will be a heaven for the AN Thai bashers.

 

 

what ? this has nothing to do with her being thai and everything to do with her being incompetent and not up to date on regulations on the tour. 

 

you mean bashing a stupid decision made by an adult ? 

[2baht]

Whacking a little white ball around is a sure way to mess up a good walk!

[2baht]

12 hours ago, BenStark said:

Oh this topic will be a heaven for the AN Thai bashers.

 

 

They make it so easy, BS!  

[simon43]

I don't play golf, never have.  I wasn't aware that one was even allowed to use any form of mechanical or electronic aid.  IMHO, ALL such devices should be banned.  If you can't estimate the distance, go get some better glasses!

Edited July 8, 2023 by simon43

[Ralf001]

Atleast she made it to 5 holes.... woulda made for a WTF thread title if it read 3-holer !!

[TigerandDog]

13 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Time for her to blame herself.  She as the boss, should be checking and double checking the rules very irresponsible of her.

as a former tour caddy I can assure you that it is the caddy's responsibility to make sure that BOTH he and his player are aware of the tournament rules and regulations. Yes she should have known BUT this was the caddy doing the wrong thing that got her DQ'd.  Think back to when Ian Woosnam got penalised for having too many clubs in his bag. That was the caddies fault not Woosy's. This instance is no different. She needs to get herself a new caddy asap.

[TigerandDog]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

No ambiguity then.

no ambiguity, they're 2 different major's for the women. The US Open is clear, The AIG women's open is the renamed women's British Open. As you were confused by this you're obviously not a golfer.

[TigerandDog]

1 hour ago, cncltd1973 said:

if men can't use range finders then why can women? are they handicapped in estimating distance?

men can use rangefinders but only in the PGA Championship. Using rangefinders actually speeds up play. Players don't have to stand around waiting while caddies pace out distances.