Michelle Wie finished the third
round of the State Farm Classic alone in second place and then was
disqualified for failing to immediately sign her scorecard a day
earlier.
Wie had just finished off a 5-under 67 to get to 17 under for
the tournament and was one stroke back third-round leader Yani
Tseng.
LPGSA officials say they learned during third-round play from
tournament volunteers about the 18-year-old's mistake.
The LPGA's director of tournament competitions says Wie "was
like a little kid after you tell them there's no Santa Claus."
Wie says after she finished her round on Friday, she left the
tent where players sign their scorecards and was chased down by
some of the tournament volunteers who pointed out she hadn't
signed.
Wie returned to the tent and signed the card and "thought it
would be OK."
But Wie had already walked outside the roped-off area around the
tent. At that point, the mistake was final.
Tseng shot a 6-under-par 66 to get to 18 under for the
tournament.
With Wie's disqualification, Katie Futcher, who shot a 66 of her
own, finished the day in second place at minus-16.