The SI writer discusses the Michelle Wie controversy

On Sunday, Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Bamberger alerted LPGA Tour officials to the possibility that Michelle Wie may have violated Rule 20-7 -- which states a drop must be no nearer the hole than the ball's original position -- in her round the previous day. Wie was eventually disqualified from the Samsung World Championship -- her first tournament as a pro. In an SI.com Q & A, Bamberger explains what he saw and why he waited until Sunday to speak with officials and discusses the controversy surrounding his actions.

	Michelle Wie hits her shot after taking a drop on the 7th hole Saturday at Bighorn Golf Club. Darren Carroll/SI
	RELATED • Photo gallery of Wie's controversial drop • STANGER: Plenty of blame to go around • SHIPNUCK: Playing by golf's rules • Wie disqualified in first event as a pro

Q: Were you sent to cover the Samsung World Championship or to write about Michelle Wie?

BAMBERGER: My assignment was to write about Michelle's first tournament as a professional.

Q: Where were you standing when she took her drop on the 7th hole in Saturday's round?

BAMBERGER: I was about six feet away, directly behind her.

Q: Did you realize immediately that she had taken an incorrect drop?

BAMBERGER: No. Her body was in front of the ball, so I couldn't see the ball. After she played her shot, I saw where the divot was -- it was a very tiny divot. Visually, it seemed that she was closer to the hole than where the ball had landed in the bush.

Q: What did you do next?

BAMBERGER: I waited for the course to clear, then paced off the distances -- from her drop to the hole, and from the hole to where her ball originally landed -- at least 10 times. I kept getting that her drop was one pace closer to the hole, which gave her an unimpeded backswing, and that troubled me.

Q: Are you a rules expert?

BAMBERGER: No, not at all. But I love golf. I've written about golf a lot. And I caddied briefly on both the PGA Tour in 1985 and the European Tour in 1991. Taking relief from an unplayable lie can be a very complicated business.

Q: Were there other people around when Michelle took her drop? And what they did think of the drop?

BAMBERGER: I heard some people comment that the drop looked improper, but everybody quickly moved to the 8th hole and I was left alone to pace it off.

Q: Did you have any previous experiences with Michelle or her family?

BAMBERGER: Yes. I've covered Michelle before. I've talked to her father extensively. I found her to be nothing but delightful and about the most exciting thing in golf today.

Q: Once you suspected she had violated a rule, did you think she did it intentionally?

BAMBERGER: You can never know exactly what is going on in somebody's head, but I have said from the start that I don't believe Michelle intentionally took a bad drop. I knew she rushed. She's a young player in the third round of her professional career and the round had been going slowly. She and playing partner Grace Park were struggling and were substantially behind the group playing ahead of them.