Lexi Thompson still haunted by ANA Inspiration controversy
Wednesday 28 March 2018 16:26, UK
Lexi Thompson admits she still has the occasional "nightmare" when she reflects on the controversy that overshadowed last year's ANA Inspirational.
Thompson returns to Rancho Mirage this week for the first women's major of the year haunted by the memories of 12 months ago, when she was handed a four-stroke penalty midway through the final day for an infringement in the third round.
A television viewer alerted tournament officials to an incident on the 17th green late on Saturday, when Thompson incorrectly replaced her ball after deciding to mark it rather than tap in from a little over a foot away.
Thomson was informed of the punishment until she reached the 12th hole on the final day, when she was informed she had been penalised two shots for the infringement and a further two for signing an incorrect scorecard.
The 23-year-old suddenly went from leading by three strokes to being a shot behind, although she regrouped to birdie the next and went on to force a play-off with So Yeon Ryu, who birdied the first extra hole to snatch the title.
"I've relived it for a while," said Thompson at her pre-tournament press conference. "I had nightmares about it, and I still occasionally do. It's been rough, but you know the fans were behind me the weeks after, the months after.
"I stayed off social media after that because media was blowing it up and making me feel terrible. So I just tried not to pay attention to any of that. I just hung out with my family, and just kind of stayed to myself, honestly, and just had to let it go and let time pass.
"That whole week I probably played some of the best golf that I've ever played, but it didn't end up the way I wanted to, obviously. But, what was running through my mind, as everybody saw, I literally thought it was a joke.
"I wasn't expecting that at all and I had to obviously play on. It was tough to finish, but I knew I could make birdies and just have to finish strong, and the fans helped me out a lot with that.
"I had to dig really deep. Honestly, the next tee shot I was crying, and basically every tee shot there was water in my eyes. But the fans were the only reason why I finished the way I did. I heard them chanting my name on every shot, I heard them on the green chanting my name, and I had to finish strong for them.
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"I just tried to continue that throughout the year, keep on working on my game in the off weeks. I got through that and then played well in the events after that. So I knew whatever I was challenged with, I could get through. If I just kept on with the positive attitude and kept working on my game, I knew I could get through it."
