Why was Céline Boutier’s record card of 59 not approved?

At the heart of the tournament she is playing this week in Michigan, Frenchwoman Céline Boutier almost achieved a historic feat on the LPGA circuit, but the rules of the week’s event decided otherwise. Explanations.

Join the illustrious Annika Sorenstam becoming only the second player in history to shoot a 59 in the history of the LPGA. This is the feat that was in question after the immense performance achieved by Celine Boutier during the second round of competition of Dow Championship in Michigan.

Eleven birdies, not the slightest error on the par 70 of Midland Country Club, enough to reach the magic mark of 59. The performance of the Frenchwoman, who notably managed seven birdies in a row, including eight on the first leg alone, is as great as it is frustrating. The reason ? It will not be counted as such in the women’s circuit record book.

The Dow Championship being a doubles event on the LPGA circuit, the card returned by Céline Boutier, in the four-ball format of the day, is therefore not countable individually, but as part of his total score alongside his playing partner this week Yuka SasoThe Frenchwoman’s 59 (-11) therefore logically remains “anecdotal” with regard to the rules.

The two young women also combined for the tournament record score of 58 (-12) by only taking the best of their two scores.

For now, Queen Annika can still sleep soundly, her 59 (-13) achieved in 2001 at Standard Register PING, still remains the one and only score in the history of the American circuit for women under 60.

Photo by Andrew Redington / GETTY IMAGES ASIAPAC / Getty Images via AFP