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Golfer DQ’d from AIG Women’s Open after caddie uses DMD

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Ana Pelaez Trivino’s challenge at St Andrews ended after the device was used during two holes of her second round

ana pelaez disqualified

Ana Pelaez Trivino has been disqualified from the AIG Women’s Open after her caddie used a distance measuring device at St Andrews.

The Spaniard would have been comfortably inside the cut-line at the Old Course – the leaderboard saying she’d followed up an opening 72 with a two-over 74 – but a tournament statement revealed the 26-year-old’s caddie had used a device on two holes of the back nine. DMDs are prohibited at the final women’s major of the year.

The statement read: “Ana Pelaez Trivino has been disqualified from the AIG Women’s Open. Her caddie used a Distance Measuring Device on two separate occasions (10th and 18th holes).

“The use of a Distance Measuring Device is prohibited at the Championship under model local rule G5. The penalty was applied under Rule 4.3.”

Ana Pelaez Trivino disqualified: What is the rule on Distance Measuring Devices at the AIG Women’s Open?

That latter rule says a first breach brings with it a two shot penalty, but the second occasion – “even if the nature of the breach was entirely different” – means disqualification.

Although unusual, Pelaez Trivino, enjoying her rookie season on the LPGA Tour, isn’t the only player to have come to grief because of this rule.

Natthakritta Vongtaveelap didn’t get past the 5th hole of her debut in last year’s US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach before she was sent packing when her caddie Jinsup Kim twice used a DMD.

Part of the confusion may arise because rangefinders are allowed at events on the LPGA Tour, and they’ve also been used at the Women’s PGA Championship since 2021.

But even when they are permitted, perils can still remain. Justin Leonard recently disqualified himself from the opening round of a PGA Tour Champions event because he had the slope function on his rangefinder.

Now have your say

Ana Pelaez Trivino disqualified: What do you think? Does the punishment fit the crime? Should rangefinders be allowed in all professional events? Let me know thoughts with a comment on X.

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About the author

Steve Carroll
Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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