The Worst Cheating in Golf... 'David Robertson' Summoned by Yuna

Promising Scottish Golfer Banned for 20 Years for Cheating
Moved Ball Intentionally at Least 5 Times in 9 Holes... Caddie Says "I Couldn't Stand It and Left"

Yoo Nina, who has been banned from participating in domestic tournaments for 3 years due to disciplinary action by the KLPGA. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] Yoon Ina (19) has been suspended from participating in domestic tournaments by the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) for three years, causing a stir in the golf community. Despite calls for leniency from some quarters, the association's decision to impose a severe penalty is seen by the industry as a declaration of a zero-tolerance policy toward cheating during competitions in the future.

An anonymous golf industry insider said, "This case is unusual in the KLPGA Tour, where most matches are broadcast live and there are many galleries," adding, "However, in lower-tier tours or junior tournaments, where there is less scrutiny, cheating is happening unnoticed."

In particular, the golf community is pointing out that to prevent recurrence of such cheating, the past representative case of David Robertson (Scotland) should be taken as a cautionary example. A single momentary mistake can ruin a golfer's career.

The subject of the case, David Robertson, was a promising player who had won the British Youth Championship. However, in July 1985, he was caught cheating during the British Open qualifiers and received an unprecedented severe penalty from the tournament organizer R&A: a fine of 5,000 pounds (about 8 million KRW) and a 20-year ban from participation. The R&A is a British organization that oversees the British Open, one of the four major golf tournaments worldwide, and makes final decisions on golf rules and club design globally. For Robertson, who was 28 at the time, the 20-year ban effectively meant the end of his playing career.

According to testimony from Paul Connolly, who was his caddie at the time, Robertson's cheating went beyond common sense. The testimony states that Robertson committed cheating at least five times over nine holes.

The incident occurred during the final round of the qualifiers. It started at the 3rd hole, where he moved the ball about 10 feet. At the 4th hole, he again moved the ball the same distance closer to the hole.

At the 6th and 7th holes, he deliberately touched the ball in the rough.

The most striking was at the 9th hole rough. Robertson asked Connolly to go ahead and check the distance. When Connolly returned, the ball, which should have been buried in the rough, was perfectly placed on the grass. Connolly quit his role as Robertson's caddie immediately after this hole. In his testimony, Connolly said, "I could no longer endure the situation." Robertson continued playing but was eventually disqualified for cheating at the 14th hole. That was his last round as a player.

According to major media outlets, Robertson's history of cheating dates back 15 years.

He was disqualified for scorecard falsification at the 1970 Scottish Youth Stroke Play Championship. Three years later, in 1974, he was disqualified for improper ball marking on the green at the East of Scotland Alliance Championship. Fortunately, these two incidents occurred during his amateur days.

Even after turning professional in 1974, cheating continued. In 1977, he suddenly withdrew from the Portugal Open, shortly after an American player competing with him raised suspicions of 'alggagi' (a Korean term for a type of cheating) in the rough. In 1982, at a pro-am tournament held in Scotland, he was disqualified for an improper drop in the rough.

Robertson's case is regarded by the golf community as demonstrating how harsh the consequences can be for cheating in golf, a sport known for having no referees.