Marcel Siem’s mistake costs him his Tour card

Marcel Siem started the week 189th on the Race to Dubai and needed a top 10 finish at the Open de France to have a chance of retaining his European Tour card. Unfortunately, the 39 year old German, who lifted the World Cup of Golf with fellow countryman Bernhard Langer in 2006, failed to complete his opening round after misunderstanding the rules and in doing lost out on any chance of retaining his card.

Having turned professional back in 2000, Siem has played in 445 tournaments but that didn’t help him understand that the preferred lies rule was not in place during the opening round of the Open de France. It took until the 10th hole before he was informed that the rule was not in effect and he had infringed a two shot penalty for the five times he violated the rule. So instead of thinking he was actually just one over par, he was ten more shots worse off.

Having heard the outcome from the rules official Siem shook his hand, smiled and made his way back to the clubhouse. But why did he not see that his other playing partners were not LIFT, CLEAN AND PLACING?

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