US Women’s Open golfer disqualified after caddie makes grave mistake

It was the primary U.S. Women’s Open spherical of Natthakritta Vongtaveelap’s profession, but it surely was over after simply 5 holes following her caddie’s grave mistake that led to a disqualification from the event at Pebble Seaside. 

The 20-year-old’s caddie was noticed utilizing a rangefinder, which is prohibited on the U.S. Open.

USGA guidelines official Kathryn Belanger stated her caddie used the rangefinder “a minimum of a pair occasions,” which led to the disqualification. If it was one time, the penalty would have been two pictures off Vongtaveelap’s whole rating for the spherical. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Natthakritta Vongtaveelap tees of on the first gap in the course of the second spherical of the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty Nationwide Golf Membership on June 2, 2023 in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey. (Wealthy Graessle/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)

Rangefinders should not allowed on the PGA Tour throughout event rounds, however most LPGA Tour events have allowed them since 2021. Nonetheless, the U.S. Open stays a event the place they aren’t allowed for the golfers. 

On the time of disqualification, Vongtaveelap was even par. 

LPGA TOUR GOLFER AMY OLSON PREPARING TO PLAY IN US OPEN WHILE 30 WEEKS PREGNANT

Vongtaveelap’s caddie isn’t the one one to study in regards to the rangefinder rule, because the Korn Ferry Tour – the extent simply earlier than the PGA Tour – noticed Zach Williams get disqualified after utilizing his rangefinder on a number of events.

Natthakritta Vongtaveelap appears to be like on from the thirteenth inexperienced in the course of the second spherical of the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty Nationwide Golf Membership on June 2, 2023 in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey. (Adam Starvation/Getty Photographs)

Williams had certified for the Memorial Well being Championship, and that qualifier allowed rangefinders. Nonetheless, the event itself didn’t because the Korn Ferry Tour prohibits them. 

Vongtaveelap had a stable begin to her LPGA Tour profession, as she was runner-up on the Honda LPGA Thailand event and completed tied-sixth on the LOTTE Championship. 

Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, left, speaks along with her caddie earlier than tee off at 1st gap in the course of the last spherical of the Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Nation Membership on Feb. 26, 2023 in Chon Buri, Thailand. (Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Photographs)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Nonetheless, she has come again right down to Earth for the reason that begin of the season, because the Thai golfer made only a single minimize in her final 5 begins.