Brittany Lang Wins U.S. Women's Open, but Not Without Some USGA Drama

Another U.S. Open and wouldn’t you know there would be drama. This time at U.S. Women’s Open hosted at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California.

Brittany Lang and Anna Nordqvist headed into a three-hole playoff tied at six under. Nordqvist had been having a spectacular day and was five-under in the final round. Both players walked away from the first playoff hole with a par, but during the second playoff hole Nordqvist grounded her club in a fairway bunker.

Neither player was aware of the two-stroke penalty facing Nordqvist until she hit her approach shot into the green on the par-5 18th hole.

This comes on the heels of the USGA’s terrible decision involving Dustin Johnson at Oakmont. The one difference here is that it is VERY clear that Nordqvist grounded her club, but for some reason it took way too long to inform her.

Anna Nordqvist only complaint? She wishes USGA would have told her before she hit her third shot.
— Randall Mell (@RandallMellGC) July 11, 2016

When Nordqvist was finally notified, she had already hit her shot into the 18th green, meanwhile, Lang was informed of the penalty before her shot into the green and was able to adjust her strategy and play conservatively knowing she had a two-stroke lead.

Brittany Lang confirms she hit a safer shot into last playoff hole after being told Nordqvist was penalized.
— Randall Mell (@RandallMellGC) July 11, 2016

Thanks everyone for the support this week! ???tough break but still smiling -plenty more opportunities ahead of me!! pic.twitter.com/p2cnbdc1Su
— Anna Nordqvist (@ANordqvist) July 11, 2016

Of course the situation wasn’t made any better by USGA President Diana Murphy making things awkward once again during a trophy presentation. She referred to winner Brittany Lang as “Bethany” multiple times.

[Golf Digest]