Sue May is a Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame inductee, and was one of four Nevada Golf rules officials at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club. She recounts the following ruling she made during the LPGA Tour major
Sue’s Ruling:
A player’s ball was embedded in the grass lip of the bunker. Here is how I instructed her to take relief.
When a ball is embedded in the general area, relief may be taken by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area.
1. Reference Point is the spot in the General Area right behind where the ball is embedded.
2. Size of relief area measured from reference point is one club-length.
3. The relief area must be in the General Area and not nearer the hole than the reference point.
It is a “major” accomplishment–pun intended–for an association to have four rules officials working a national USGA major tournament.
