News
Amy Olson denies any wrongdoing in backstopping controversy
Following the backstopping controversy which overshadowed the LPGA’s Honda Thailand event, Amy Olson one of the two players involved, took to social media to present her side of the story.
Within the post, Olson denied any intent and dismissed claims of collusion, while stressing both herself and Ariya Jutanugarn’s innocence from any wrongdoing.
— Amy Olson (@AmyOlsonGolf) February 25, 2019
The LPGA previously addressed the situation after the second days play, stating
“There was no agreement by either player to leave Jutanugarn’s ball in place to help Olson’s next stroke. An LPGA Rules Official was approaching the 18th green at the time and agreed that no breach had occurred.”
Neither player received any punishment over the incident, and both Olson and Jutanugarn notched top-25 finishes at the event, finishing T23 and 14th respectively.
A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.
As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.
Let’s get to the gifts.
Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo
We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.
STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover
If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.
Why Golf: Putting Thing
When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.
OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes
Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!
Therabody Theragun Relief
A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down.
World Cup golf apparel
Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.
FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes
Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.
Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker
Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.
Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls
The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!
- GolfWRX may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
With the PGA Tour across the border in Canada this week, GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore stayed stateside and headed to the OccuNet Classic presented by Amarillo National Bank in Amarillo, Texas.
It’s always interesting to see what the guys are playing on the KFT, and this week certainly hasn’t disappointed so far, with some incredible wedge stamping on display.
Check out links to all our albums below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ryan Palmer – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Mahanth Chirravuri – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Josh Creel – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Phichaksn Maichon – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Brandon Berry – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Ryan Burnett – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- James Song – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Andrew McLauchlan – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Ian Gilligan – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Alvaro Ortiz – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Russell Knox – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Ian Holt – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Mitchell Meissner – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Travis Trace – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Bryce Lewis – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
Pullout Albums
Luke Potter’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @HuskerFlyer is sharing a Scotty Cameron GOLO with a BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition shaft. While the putter is certainly enviable, the Augusta-inspired shaft is equally noteworthy.
From the listing:
Scotty Cameron Golo 6 with BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition Scotty Headcover 34″ $375
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.
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Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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Peter McGill
Feb 28, 2019 at 8:20 pm
I always clear on my popularity in the group if they all race up to mark their ball when I’m about to chip…
dan mcco
Feb 26, 2019 at 6:17 pm
Change the rule so that a ball cannot be marked unless the player hitting onto the green requests it. Then there is no backstopping issue and everyone gets the “advantage”. We used to make player putt over or around a ball on the green (stymies.)
Matthew Keves
Feb 26, 2019 at 1:29 pm
Simple fix…if an opponent’s ball hits yours, you both play it as it lies…no more putting it back where it was. That’ll stop this immediately
Sandra
Feb 26, 2019 at 1:43 pm
That’s a good one. I’d go for that AND mark my ball every time!
frank cichon
Feb 26, 2019 at 12:06 pm
What a joke! After hitting her chip, Ariya started towards the hole INTENDING to MARK her ball but glanced at Olson and was WAVED OFF by Olson. If anyone that has played the game at a fairly decent level (having some skill) knows that a ball resting within 2 feet right of the hole makes a downhill chip (from a poor lie) MUCH easier. I my mind Olson took advantage and hit the shot MUCH quicker than she would have. I think Olson should have been penalized …not Ariya because Olson waved her off. As for not holding up play…did I not see Wie standing on the fringe of the green (NO CLUB in hand) waiting for a RULING. WHAT A MONTH FOR GOLF……..KUCHER, DJ’s ruling was another JOKE ….I lost a lot of respect for ALL 3 of these golfers.
UpstateGolfer
Feb 26, 2019 at 9:34 am
Rub of the green. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts. I am for the speed up of play and if it helps a player every now and again so be it. Non-Issue.
Tim Armington
Feb 26, 2019 at 9:14 am
If she is good enough to hit a 1.5″ ball at will why wouldn’t she aim at the 4.5″ hole? It speeds up play and should be a non-issue!
Jim
Feb 26, 2019 at 9:13 am
Gianni,
Words are significant! Your use of the word “denies” in your column above implies there was guilt. A much more positive word would have been the truthful “explains” what happened. I’m tired of all you journalists and so-called experts taking the negative viewpoint on everything, especially Chamblee!
Regarding the backstopping, Amy made an error in judgement trying to protect the field from slow play by playing fast. That’s all.
Stop trying to make something sinister or negative out of it and get on with life and more important things!
Dennis
Feb 26, 2019 at 9:02 am
Require a ball on the green must be marked before the next player plays his/her shot.
Dave R
Feb 26, 2019 at 10:50 am
Curious…how far away 100yds…50yds
This whole “backstopping” thing is ludicrous…
joro
Feb 26, 2019 at 8:59 am
So what, there is no rule against it and it is done all the time. A person chips it close and rather than wait for the player to mark it, which takes time, the next player hits. So big deal, it is stupid to even comment on it. It has been going on forever.
Tiger Noods
Feb 26, 2019 at 5:49 am
You guys are full of it. The word “likely” is used in the rule, and by all accounts, likely by definition is better than a 50% chance. The thought that you are all suggesting that it was *LIKELY* that the other ball would be hit from a pitch from off the green is flatly preposterous. If it were “likely”, then imagine how easily a larger target, like a 4.25″ hole would be hit from there… this was just a wee little 1.68″ ball!
You either expect these ladies to be shooting 59s consistently, or you are putting way, way too much into this.
JP
Feb 25, 2019 at 9:42 pm
Jutanugarn was on her way up to mark her ball. She knew it was likely to get hit. Olsen waved her off and proceeded to do just that.
Everyone who saw it knew it was a rule infraction.
Like already said, if this were match play, there’s no way Jutanugarn doesn’t mark her ball!
scott
Feb 26, 2019 at 2:21 pm
“likely”? Why didn’t she just hit the stick instead of the ball that was 2 feet to the right? Wouldn’t it be easier if she would have just hit the stick and made the chip instead of hitting the other ball?
But I guess you are right EVERYONE knew it was a rules infraction. Let’s not let the fact that it IS NOT a rules infraction get in the way of your story.
JP
Feb 26, 2019 at 3:47 pm
“Likely” as in it had a good chance! It was in close proximity to the intended target. So yes, it was likely to get hit.
.
Oh wait! Not just likely, it DID get hit! That’s how likely a ball somewhat close to the pin is to get hit. A distinct possibility. That’s why there is a rule about this.
.
Given the choice, I’d love to have a ball or two somewhat close to the pin each and every time I chip up. And I’d prefer those balls be just left, right, or behind the cup. Why? Because it’s likely I’ll hit them once in a while and it will help. Or is there a rule regarding this???
Tom
Feb 25, 2019 at 2:33 pm
Both spectators watching the women’s golf noticed the infraction…..lol!
2putttom
Feb 25, 2019 at 1:45 pm
what does the “rule” say
thebigdad
Feb 25, 2019 at 11:58 am
I can assure you had Jutanugarn’s ball been in front of the hole, Olsen would have insisted it be marked.
bob
Feb 25, 2019 at 11:06 am
So they want to speed up play, but you have to stop to mark every ball on the green.
kevin
Feb 25, 2019 at 1:38 pm
it took the players 12 seconds from the shot to walk to the green and fist pump. marking a ball sitting next to the cup does is not the reason why players are slow.
the simple test should be whether or not the ball would’ve been marked during match play. guarantee it would’ve.
Matt D
Feb 25, 2019 at 4:37 pm
100% right Kevin. Jutanagarn’s instinct was to mark it because it might give Amy an advantage. Jutanagarn is entitled under the rules to mark her ball, or have any other ball marked if there’s an advantage. My guess is she didn’t want to make waves so just left it.
Jon G
Feb 25, 2019 at 9:48 am
Players need to know the rules. I like Amy, but ignorance of the rules for any player in a sport they play for a living is not good for the sport,