By Mel Reid’s third round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship was already off to a rocky start when she made a difficult mistake near the Baltusrol 5th hole that cost her one stroke.
Reid marked her ball on No. 5 only to discover that it was sitting on the edge rather than the putting surface. Reid’s second-round score of 67 (4-under) was the lowest score of the day on Friday.
In response to Reid’s blunder, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Rules Committee issued a statement.
“During play of the 5th hole, Reid’s second shot came to rest near the back left of #5 green approximately four inches from the putting green, on the collar. Reid did not realize that the ball was not on the putting green and marked, lifted, cleaned, and replaced her ball. She then called for a Referee who confirmed that the ball was not on the putting green.
“Under Rule 9.4b, if a player who lifts or deliberately touches their ball at rest or causes it to move, when not permitted to do so, gets one penalty stroke,” the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Rules Committee wrote.
Reid’s third bogey of the day came as a consequence of the penalty on the 373-yard par-4.
The outcome of Reid’s approach shot was visible on broadcast footage from NBC. Her ball looked to have landed on the closely mowed collar only a few inches away from the green.
The collars on these greens are quite difficult to notice, according to NBC’s Paige Mackenzie.
Reid finished her third round on Saturday at even par and 4 over par, which left her in a tie for 18th position overall.
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