Recently a journalist reported Michelle Wie’s golf rules infraction at the recent Samsung World Championship golf tournament. There has been a fair amount of debate about whether, as a writer who covers the golf tour, he should have reported the rules violation or just reported on it after it was reported by someone else.

This is a tough issue and I can see all sides of from a golfer’s perspective. First, golf is a game of rules and, I believe, a game of honor and principle. And most people take rules violations very seriously. So I can see where anyone, fan or writer, at a professional golf tournament might feel compelled to report something that they see.

But one of the points of contention in articles that have been written about it (as an example see http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/lpga/2005-10-17-wie-si_x.htm) asks why the writer waited so late to report it. If reported earlier, Wie might have had the opportunity to take the strokes penalty and might have avoided the disqualification by signing the wrong score card.

Another question that I have is should anyone that is an observer, fan or sports writer alike be allowed to report a rules violation? In this day and time, who’s to say that fans might not start reporting things to hurt or hinder someone that is challenging their personal favorite? Or could just innocent reporting of potential violations start increasing and tremendously slow down the pace of play?

Maybe the professional golf circuits need to rely on television coverage review or have posted rules officials on the golf course at all times. An interesting debate to be sure.

Wie was initially unaware of her mistake in this situation and has been, in my opinion, very professional about the matter (not necessarily her caddy). She has also said she will be more careful in the future and always check with a golf rules official when a situation arises in the future.