The players in the lead have more TV coverage and scrutiny, but the players who are not in the lead, are more likely to lose their ball because there are no cameras and spectators tracking where it goes on every shot. Also, spectators lining the fairway often get hit by the ball, which causes it to deflect back into the fairway. Years ago, Tiger Woods had a huge rock boulder (loose impediment) moved by several strong spectators so he could make a shot. That would have never happened to a player not in the lead. But, in this particular case, there was a very clear violation of the rules and she should have been penalized. So, justice prevailed. Her playing partners may have seen it, but let it slide, because they didn't want to be criticized.
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