Golf World Monday - October 15, 2012

the last time i saw doug brecht was at the u.s. women’s open in July. we sat in his cart near the 14th green at blackwolf run and talked about pace of play, one of his crusades as the lpga’s director of rules and competitions. a month later doug was hospitalized during the Jamie farr toledo classic with west nile virus and on oct. 12 he died at age 62. You might remember brecht as the guy who penalized morgan pres-sel for slow play in the sybase match play this year, or as the official who assessed michelle wie a two-stroke penalty for grounding her club in a hazard during the 2010 Kia classic. i remember him as a kind, thoughtful man whose commitment to the rules was as fierce as it was fair. doug played college golf at oklahoma and coached its women’s golf team from 1982-85, before later beginning his 22-year stint with the lpga. “doug loved being a part of the lpga family, and he told me—on numerous occasions—that he felt blessed to have a job that he loved so much,” said lpga commissioner mike whan. plans for a memorial service have not been finalized. —Ron Sirak (@ronsirak) 07remembering doug;brecht