CALLED OUT: Christina Kim Costs Player their LPGA TOUR Card

When you’re just playing a round of golf with your buddies, it’s pretty normal to ask what club they are hitting with to get some advice for your own shot. According to the Rules of Golf, this is not allowed as two LPGA hopefuls found out this weekend.

The LPGA Tour Q-Series was kicked off last week and there were many veterans and rookies hoping to earn their LPGA TOUR card this year. One group, in particular, grabbed most of the attention: veteran Christina Kim and hopefuls Kendall Dye and Dewi Weber. The three were playing together on the 17th hole when this rule was enforced.

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Apparently, while Weber was hitting her shot, Dye asked Weber’s caddie what club she was choosing to hit. After gesturing towards Weber, the caddie confirmed that she was hitting an 8-iron. In the background, Kim watched this unfold and knew that it was a rules violation. Rather than reporting it then, she waited until the group played their final ten holes and that’s when Dye and Weber were both penalized two strokes apiece.

The official rules say that, “During a round, a player must not give advice to anyone in the competition who is playing on the course, ask anyone for advice, other than the player’s caddie, or touch another player’s equipment to learn information that would be advice if given by or asked of the other player (such as touching the other player’s clubs or bag to see what club is being used).”

To make matters worse, Kim went to social media to bring this issue to light, telling all golfers to make sure they read the rules. Dye then went on to call Kim unprofessional for calling the two out on social media. Dye feels especially bad for Weber, who had no idea what was happening behind her as she hit but is certainly not happy with Kim putting the two of them on blast.

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— Kendall Dye (@Kendall_Dye) November 3, 2019

The Q-Series ended with Kim earning her LPGA TOUR card while Dye and Weber both missed out. Dye only missed her card by a few strokes that came down to the final hole so it isn’t a stretch to say that Kim cost her that opportunity. But the rules are rules no matter how minor. Hopefully, these three aren’t grouped again at any future events because who knows what might go on behind the scenes.

Cover Image Via Twitter