For a second time in three weeks, a slow-play penalty on Sunday played a prominent role in the outcome of tournament golf.
Englishman Ross Fisher was assessed a one-shot penalty by the European Tour at the 14th hole in the final round of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
Fisher had been observed by chief referee John Paramor for several holes, earning a first bad time at the 11th hole. A second bad time at the par-4 14th turned a four into a five.
After another bogey at the 17th, Fisher shot 2-over 73 to finish two shots behind winner Thongchai Jaidee
Two weeks ago, the LPGA issued a loss-of-hole penalty to Morgan Pressel in her semi-final match against Azahara Munoz in the Sybase Match Play Championship.
After getting put on the clock on the tee of the par-3 12th, Pressel had won the hole on strokes, four to three, to go 3 up in the match. Her pace was 29 seconds too long, however, and it cost her the hole. She eventually lost the match, 2 and 1, to the Spaniard.
The PGA Tour last assessed a penalty stroke for slow play in 1995. Glen Day was penalized a shot after the third round of the Honda Classic.
