A statement from the LPGA
During the afternoon fourball match on Friday between Stacy Lewis/Lexi Thompson and Suzann Pettersen/Carlota Ciganda, Ciganda hit her second shot on the par 5 15th hole into the right-hand lateral water hazard. After locating her ball within five minutes, the referee in the match advised Ciganda of her options including Rule 26 – 1c. Prior to Ciganda receiving a final ruling, the match referee consulted with the lead rules official who then instructed Ciganda of her options. Per Rule 26-1c (ii), a player who hits into a lateral water hazard is allowed to take equidistant relief on either side of the hazard. However, instead of dropping within the required two clubs lengths per rule 26-1c (ii), Ciganda was permitted to keep the equidistant point between her and the hole resulting in a drop approximately 40 yards behind the equidistant point. While dropping in this manner is permitted under 26-1b, it is not permitted under 26-1c (ii) which was applicable to this situation.
We regret that an incorrect ruling was given and we apologize for any confusion that was caused on the course for the players. Ultimately, Ciganda proceeded to play according to the final ruling she was given and the result of the match does not change. Both captains (Meg Mallon & Liselotte Neumann) were briefed on the matter. Tomorrow’s Foursomes Matches begin at 7:40am local time.
Contact: Kraig Kann, LPGA Chief Communications Officer, kraig.kann@lpga.com; 407.902.4542
Two years ago the European Solheim Cup Team pulled off a dramatic, come-from-behind victory at Killeen Castle in Ireland to win the Cup for the first time since 2003. During Friday’s foursomes and four-ball matches at Colorado Golf Club, the young team played as if a comeback wasn’t going to be needed this year.
After capturing three points in the Friday morning foursomes, Team Europe won two more matches in the afternoon four-ball session to take a 5-3 lead over the U.S. Team heading into Saturday’s second day of play.
“Obviously we were extremely happy with that,” said European Solheim Cup captain Liselotte Neumann. “I think the morning was our couple of key matches, we got off to a really good start. We got those first two matches in and even the fourth match was just solid play and just came off to that good start. And obviously a tie in the afternoon, but I think the morning matches just really put us in the right position. I think the whole team we feel extremely happy being 5?3 at this point.”
But while the Europeans held the momentum following the first day of matches as they try to win on U.S. soil for the first time in the history of the event, it was a late-day controversy that made headlines following a ruling dispute in the first match of the afternoon four-ball session (Match No. 5).
On the par-5 15th hole, Carlota Ciganda hit her second shot into the right-hand lateral water hazard near the green. After undergoing a five-minute ball search, the referee in the match determined Ciganda’s options under Rule 26 – 1c. Prior to making a final determination on Ciganda’s options, a second referee was consulted. Per Rule 26-1c, a player who hits into a lateral water hazard is allowed to take equidistant relief on either side of the hazard. However, instead of dropping within the required two clubs lengths per rule 26-1c, Ciganda was permitted to keep the equidistant point between her and the hole resulting in a drop approximately 40 yards behind the equidistant point.
The decision was called into question by the U.S. Team. After the matches were finished, the rules staff reached agreement that a mistake had been made in the on-course ruling. Both captains were notified of the issue in a meeting. No change was made to the match’s result because the player was instructed to proceed under direction of the official.
“Obviously, I’m not happy about it,” U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Meg Mallon. “The thing I’m most unhappy about is that it took ?? and we can time it on the TV, I don’t know ?? I think it took about 25 minutes for this to happen. And from our perspective the momentum, which was coming in our favor at that point in time, obviously had stopped.
“Stacy Lewis, who is very adept at the rules, was quite angry about what was happening and I don’t blame her. They had the momentum going in their favor. People make mistakes in rulings, that’s not my issue. We have four matches out there and we have officials with every group, and it shouldn’t take that long for something like that to happen.”
Mallon then added: “So, obviously, I’m not pleased, but it’s the Rules of Golf, and we have to accept that as a team. And we have to go out tomorrow and play our best and try and get those points back.”
The Americans trailed 3-1 after the morning session of foursomes with the lone point coming from the pairing of Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda. Neither Pressel nor Korda was sent out for the afternoon sessions, but Team USA tried to find a way to get momentum back on their side at the start of the four-ball matches.
But the first match of the afternoon belonged to Suzann Pettersen. While her partner, Ciganda, struggled to get anything going, Pettersen very nearly won the match entirely on her own. However, it was a miraculous par by Ciganda on the par-5 15th as part of the ruling mistake that earned the Europeans a critical halve in what was an all-square match against Lewis and Thompson. Ciganda recovered from hitting her second shot into the water by getting her fourth shot on the green and then sank the par putt to place pressure on Lewis, who had a birdie chance but missed. After Pettersen gave the team a 1-up lead with a birdie on the 16th, the Norwegian made a short par putt on the 18th to seal the 1-up victory.
“I’m just really enjoying playing with these youngsters,” said Pettersen. “I’m so proud of them. It’s not easy to go out there, first of all, you don’t really know what to do when you step on the first tee, and then from there try to collect yourself and find your game and find a rhythm.
“Carlota, she was a super star, she hung in there tough. That’s why it’s four?ball, you play on your partners, and this is a fantastic point and I’m proud of her to get her first point.”
For Lewis, the loss to Pettersen and Ciganda in the afternoon was a continuation of her struggles in Solheim. Lewis, who went 1-3-0 in her first Solheim Cup in 2011, suffered two losses on Day 1 of play to drop her overall record to 1-5-0.
The Americans tried to get a half point in the second match of the afternoon. Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller birdied three straight holes from 14 to 16 to put them within striking distance of taking control of the match. Taking the match to the par-3 17th hole down two to the Europeans, Piller missed a 5-foot putt which would have saved par to halve the hole with Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson.
