By JEFF BABINEAU
Deputy Editor
TULSA, Okla. – Sergio Garcia won’t have to worry about struggling on another Sunday at a major. He won’t be at Southern Hills Sunday. That was ensured after Garcia was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard following Saturday's third round.
His playing partner, Boo Weekley, accidentally wrote down a par 4 for Garcia on the 17th hole, where Garcia had made 5. Garcia, who had three-putted 18 from close range to cap a frustrating morning, didn't review his card very closely and exited the scoring area in a hurry.
Weekley saw the mistake and tried to summon Garcia back to the scoring area. Once Garcia returned, he was informed he was DQ’d, since he had left the scoring area before revising the mistake. He would have shot 74 (putting him 9 over for the tournament) but signed for 73.
On the PGA Tour, a player is deemed to have left the scoring area once he leaves the trailer; at the PGA Championship, there is a large grass area outside the scoring hut, in this case a halfway house usually used by players making the turn at Southern Hills, and a blue line on the ground that players cross shortly before heading up a set of stairs leading to the clubhouse.
Once Garcia crossed the blue line, he was deemed to have left the scoring area.
“It’s my fault for putting the wrong score in,” said Weekley, “and it’s his fault for not checking his scorecard.”
Asked Garcia’s reaction, Weekley said, “He said, 'That just puts the icing on the cake.’ Or something like that.”
• • •
Jeff Babineau is
Golfweek’s deputy editor. To reach him email
jbabineau@golfweek.com.
Posted: 8/11/2007
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