Gustafson's victory overshadowed by controversy

BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2003 Samsung World Championship | Wrap | 13 Oct 2003

A brilliant last round 64, which included a double bogey at the ninth hole, saw 29-year-old Swede Sophie Gustafson win the Samsung World Championship today in Houston, but the victory was overshadowed by inquiries into two potential rule infringements.

After a lengthy investigative process which saw Gustafson and her playing partner Inkster taken firstly to the television compound, then the two areas where the possible rules infringements may have occurred, Gustafson was declared the winner.

The first area of concern was at the 14th where she had taken her stance but, according to Gustafson, not grounded the club behind her ball which was perched precariously on a side hill contour in the green. She backed off and the ball then rolled down the slope some twenty feet from where it originally lay. The question was whether or not Gustafson had grounded her club in addressing the ball. While the camera angle gave no real indication either way, Gustafson said she had not and in the end it was a case of taking her word for it.

“There was no penalty. She did not ground her club,” said tournament official Jim Haley. "She was bound and determined that she was not addressing the ball. She told us she did not ground her club. “We weren’t going to dispute her integrity.”

Afterwards her playing partner Juli Inkster said “I was focusing so much on my birdie putt I didn’t really notice. Golf’s an honour game. She’s a straight-arrow person. You have to give her the benefit of the doubt. I totally believe in what Sophie says. She played awesome. She deserved to win.”

The second incident occurred at the very next hole, where she had stamped down a divot mark just ahead of her when surveying a chip from just off the green at the par five but as it would be discovered not in a direct line between her and the hole.

One of the concerns of those at the event and commentating on television was that because those behind her were not aware of the possibility of an infringement, they may well have utlilised different strategies over their closing holes than they would have, had they been aware that there was an investigation pending. I’m not sure that argument stacks up but either way what was a brilliant last round and win by Gustafson will be forever overshadowed by the controversy of the events of the last few holes.

Gustafson has been in fine form of late with two consecutive wins in Europe recently and is back to where she was three years ago when she won twice on the USLPGA Tour. She is one of the strongest players in the game and this would be her fourth USLPGA Tour win to go with fourteen wins internationally.

She started her final round brilliantly and she needed to if she was to have a chance of catching those ahead. Rachel Teske had led into round four by one shot from Beth Daniel and Se Ri Pak, by two over Annika Sorenstam and by five over Gustafson. An eagle and five birdies in the first seven holes had Gustafson ahead of Teske by a shot at that stage.

Then came the double bogey at the ninth, but Gustafson quickly bounced back with birdies at the tenth, the thirteenth and the fifteenth to regain the lead, although she shared it with Teske who birdied the thirteenth to join the Swede at fourteen under par. Teske would three putt the sixteenth for a bogey and another bogey at the seventeenth where she missed an up and down to fall behind and eventually had to settle for second with Daniel. Sorenstam was one further back after a double bogey at the seventeenth cost her any chance.

Teske’s second placing now takes her to 7th on the money list and the leading Australian ahead of Karrie Webb who finished 11th today.

The LPGA now has a two week break before heading to Japan for the CJ Nine Bridges Classic.