Jack, they had no clue she hadn't signed the card before first leaving their defined area and either coming back in, or signing the card outside it (not that it matters, apparently), until her third round was underway. And, according to the transcript, they only found out by overhearing a volunteer tell someone something in the press tent. What if they didn't know until Sunday night and Wie had won?
Quite an outfit, this LPGA.
Tim, What is the statute of limitations on not signing a card? If she wins and they discover 2 weeks later an unsigned card what happens? Do you take back the trophy? What a joke. Jack
Jack,
According to the USGA's book, "How to Conduct a Competition," at a certain point, a competition is closed. In fact, I've covered a bunch of tournaments where someone will announce just that. And I've used the phrase as well.
So to the Decisions book we go. USGA/R&A Decision 34-1b/2 covers this:
Q. Shortly after a stroke-play competition had closed, it was discovered that the score card of the winner had not been signed by him. Should the Committee take any action?
A. The Committee must decide whether the competitor knew, before the competition closed, that he was in breach of the Rules by failing to sign his scorecard (Rule 6-6b). If he knew, he is disqualified. Otherwise, as provided in Rule 34-1b, no penalty may be imposed and the result of the competition must stand.
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Let's call when the trophy is awarded on Sunday the point when the competition is closed. Say on Monday, a tournament volunteer pulls winner Wie's four scorecards so Panther Creek can have them framed (much as Nicklaus' four scorecards from the 1968 Western Open are framed and on display in the 73rd Hole grill at Olympia Fields). Then the missing signature is discovered, so to speak. What, then, does the LPGA do?
I don't know that answer. I do know that too many years ago to remember the specifics, the results of a PGA Tour tourney were changed on, I think, a Tuesday, when either an incorrect scorecard (signed) or something else was discovered. I believe the player, who had finished third or thereabouts, voluntarily withdrew, so everyone under him could get their fair share of the purse. There you have the spirit of the game, the player using the rule of equity, coming into play.
Given that the LPGA doesn't count money winnings from the U.S. Women's Open as official, I have no idea what would happen if Wie was in the same spot, whether or not a winner, and volunteered same.