SPRINGFIELD (N.J.) — Mel Reid was one shot behind Leona Maguire, her Solheim Cup partner in the third round at the KPMG Women’s PGA. After an uncommon mistake, the momentum of the Englishwoman’s week quickly unravelled.
Reid made a mental mistake on the fifth par-4 hole at Baltusrol Lower Course after two bogeys in the first four. The veteran golfer marked her ball, and then picked it up at the edge of the green. This resulted in a penalty of one stroke under Rule 9.4b.
According to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Rules Committee, Reid’s ball rested on the collar 4 inches away from the putting surface. Reid did not realize that the ball wasn’t on the green until she marked, lifted, washed and replaced it. She called a rules official for confirmation that her ball wasn’t on the green.
KPMG Women’s PGA Photos
Reid made a bogey at the hole, and finished with 4 over. Her 4-under-67 on Friday was her best score of the day.
Reid, 35, was granted a medical exception for a sore hand and mental fatigue, which had her seriously contemplating quitting to pursue a media career. Duncan McCarthy’s mental coaching helped Reid to hit the reset button. She came into Baltusrol with four top-30 finishes in a row.
Reid’s best major finish was a T-3 at the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA, held at Hazeltine National.
