Nelly Korda, one of the rising stars on the LPGA Tour, was in tears as the organization withheld her winning title amid a controversial rules discrepancy.

Nelly Korda, one of the rising stars on the LPGA Tour, was in tears as the organization withheld her winning title amid a controversial rules discrepancy.

The incident occurred during the final round of the Gainbridge LPGA event, where Korda was leading by three shots with just four holes to play.

However, a rules discrepancy was discovered on the 15th hole, where Korda inadvertently moved her ball while moving loose impediments in a waste area. According to the LPGA rules officials, Korda should have incurred a two-shot penalty for the infraction. This would have dropped her into a tie for the lead with Lexi Thompson, who was also competing in the event.

Korda was visibly devastated when she was informed of the penalty, and tears welled up in her eyes as she realized that her first victory of the season was slipping away. Despite her emotional reaction, Korda handled the situation with grace and professionalism, accepting the ruling and finishing the round with a bogey to tie for the lead with Thompson.

In a controversial move, the LPGA chose to withhold the winning title from Korda until the rules discrepancy could be thoroughly reviewed. This decision sparked outrage among fans and fellow players, who believed that Korda should have been declared the winner based on her consistent play throughout the tournament.

The controversy surrounding the incident has raised questions about the consistency and transparency of rules enforcement on the LPGA Tour. Many have criticized the organization for its handling of the situation, calling for clearer and more consistent rules enforcement to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Despite the disappointment and controversy, Nelly Korda has shown resilience and sportsmanship in the face of adversity. She has vowed to learn from the experience and come back stronger in her future competitions. As the LPGA continues to investigate the rules discrepancy, fans will be eagerly awaiting a resolution to determine the rightful winner of the Gainbridge LPGA event.