Caddies and Coaches Turn a Blind Eye to Misconduct
KGA "Considering Whether to Reexamine Issues Related to Caddies and Coaches"
KGA held a Sports Fairness Committee meeting on the 19th and imposed a severe penalty on Yoon Ina for intentional bad ball play, banning her from participating in any tournaments hosted or organized by KGA for three years. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Tae-won] The Korea Golf Association (KGA) has imposed a severe penalty on Yoon Ina (19), a rookie on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, for intentionally playing a wrong ball, drawing attention to whether sanctions will also be applied to her caddie and coach.
On the 19th, the KGA held a Sports Fairness Committee meeting and issued a severe penalty banning Yoon Ina from participating in any tournaments hosted or organized by the KGA for three years. Yoon Ina expressed her respect for the committee’s decision and stated that she humbly accepts the imposed sanction.
In the first round of the 36th Korea Women's Open sponsored by DB Group last June, on the 15th hole (par 4) rough, Yoon Ina mistakenly lifted another player’s ball, thinking it was her own, and placed it on the green. However, she did not report this and continued playing even after realizing the ball was not hers. It is known that Yoon Ina’s caddie, coach, and parents were all aware of the cheating at the time. Yoon Ina voluntarily reported the incident to the KGA only on the 15th of last month.
Within the golf community, there are calls for discussions on whether the caddie and coach, who were aware of the cheating during the game, should also be disciplined.
A Mr. A, active on the KPGA 2nd Tour, stated, “Since the coach and caddie’s performance is linked to the player’s good results, they might have been tempted and failed to resist. Discussions on disciplining them are necessary to prevent such cheating in the future.”
Prospective professional player Mr. B also said, “The caddie and coach who were aware of the cheating but effectively participated in covering it up cannot be free from responsibility.”
A KGA official explained in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 22nd, “The issue regarding the caddie was also mentioned at the Fairness Committee. For now, since the player is primarily responsible for the caddie’s fault, it has been handled accordingly.” However, he added, “It is still unclear whether the caddie and coach were aware of the wrong ball play itself. We are considering whether a further review is necessary.”
A KLPGA official said in a phone interview with this publication on the same day, “We are currently coordinating the schedule for the disciplinary committee regarding player Yoon Ina. It is not yet decided what exact discussions will take place.”
Nonetheless, regardless of whether the association directly disciplines them, the consensus in the golf community is that the caddie and coach will find it difficult to continue their activities on the professional stage.
Former international referee of the Korea Golf Association, Park No-seung, said, “Even if the association does not discipline Yoon’s caddie and coach, I doubt there will be professional players willing to team up with those who committed cheating.”
Meanwhile, there are also predictions that even if Yoon Ina returns to the tour after the disciplinary process is completed, her career will face significant restrictions.
Former international referee Park explained, “Overseas, cheating is punished much more strictly because the label ‘cheater’ carries a stigma.”
In fact, David Robinson (Scotland), a promising golfer in 1985, had to end his career due to cheating during the qualifying rounds of The Open. He was caught after repeatedly moving the ball closer to the hole on the green, a cheating act reported by his caddie. The European Tour, which organized the tournament, imposed a lifetime ban on Robinson.
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