Mel Reid Assessed Penalty for This Unfortunate Ball-Marking Error at KPMG Women’s PGA

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. — Mel Reid was already off to a shaky start during her third round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship when she made a tough blunder around Baltusrol’s 5th green that resulted in a one stroke penalty.

Reid, whose second round 67 (4-under) was the low score of the day on Friday, marked her ball on No. 5 only to realize that it was resting on the fringe rather than the putting surface.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Rules Committee released a statement on Reid’s error.

“During play of the 5th hole, Reid’s second shot came to rest near the back left of #5 green approximately four inches from the putting green, on the collar. Reid did not realize that the ball was not on the putting green and marked, lifted, cleaned and replaced her ball. She then called for a Referee who confirmed that the ball was not on the putting green.

“Under Rule 9.4b, if a player who lifts or deliberately touches their ball at rest or causes it to move, when not permitted to do so, gets one penalty stroke,” the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Rules Committee wrote.

The penalty resulted in Reid carding a bogey on the 373-yard par-4, her third bogey of the day.

Footage from NBC’s broadcast showed the result of Reid’s approach shot. It appeared that her ball came to rest just inches off the green on the tightly mowed collar.

“It’s very tough to see the collars on these greens,” NBC’s Paige Mackenzie said.

Reid made the turn on Saturday at even par, and 4 over for her third round, putting her in a tie for 18th place for the tournament.