[JGVillages]

Anna Norqvist was assessed a 2 stroke penalty in the Women's US Open 3 hole total stroke playoff today when on the 2nd playoff hole, #17, in a fairway sand trap she inavertaintly grounded her club. Ok justified. It is the way the penalty was seen and the notification process the USGA needs to revise. Thinking she and Brittnay Lang were even hitting their 3rd shots to 18 the USGA let Norqvist hit without notification. Immediately after that shot she was told. They then notified Lang prior to her 3rd shot, basically telling her she had a 2 stroke lead. She now was aware that she did not need to be aggresive and try to make birdie to win. If Norqvist had the same information prior to her 3rd shot she would have to be aggressive, knowing she was 2 strokes behind. All the USGA needed to do was notify both after their 3rd shots so Lang did not have an advantage on her 3rd shot. Considering the screw-up at the men's US Open and now this, not only to the rules of golf need revisiting but also their penalty notification process. How many players not "on camera" may deserve unseen (by player and camera) penalties that are not assessed and later go on to cash big checks or win. Penalties should not be assessed by callers seeing it on TV or a camera tech in a trailer noticing it. The entire field needs to be protected so let the players, their opponents, and the on-course officials see the issue and make the decision real time. PROTECT THE FIELD.