For those who may have missed it, there has been a simmering anger amongst many in the golf fraternity this past week that newly-crowned Women’s Open champion Sophia Popov is apparently not being rewarded with the full spoils of her fabulous victory.

The 27-year-old will not be in the field for what is traditionally the first women’s major of the year – the ANA Inspiration - when it tees off in California next month despite the fact she is currently the toast of the game.

Popov will also not earn a five-year exemption to play on the LPGA Tour as she was not a full LPGA member at the time she hoisted the trophy.

As one would imagine, this has created a bit of a stir, particularly her absence from the ANA field.

Now, any fool can see the marketing downside of Popov not teeing up at Mission Hills (or earning a five-year exemption though that is a slightly different matter).

But it’s easy – and frankly lazy – to seize on it as an example of some kind of incompetence.

The truth of the matter is that everybody – from LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan all the way down to the casual golf fan – would love to see Popov on course at the ANA.

Unfortunately, to make that happen would require an act that no serious sports fan could possibly find palatable: changing the rules of competition after the game has started.

Sophia Popov won't be in the field for the ANA Inspiration, which has caused a stir in the golfing fraternity. PHOTO: Getty Images.

As Whan explained ahead of last week’s tournament in Arkansas, the field for the ANA was set in March with the express acknowledgement that it would not be changed.

No player not already qualified could earn their way in and no player already in the field could lose their spot.

Under the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic at the time, it seemed a sensible way to proceed and there was little griping about the announcement at the time (The Masters applied similar rules for their November playing).

But of course, that all changed at Troon.

The general narrative surrounding Popov’s situation is that it is yet another example of golf being a stupid game and shooting itself in the foot on the world stage because of outdated and stuffy rules and regulations.

Which is bollocks, obviously, as it conveniently ignores a much bigger and broader truth about something fundamental to any and all competitions: rules.

Prior to any sporting event (or series of sporting events, such as a professional golf season) there are rules put in place to cover everything from the actual playing of the game to how the money will be divided each week to who is qualified to play in which events.

All competitors who take part in that competition are aware of – and agree to – those rules prior to play.

That doesn’t mean that every player likes every rule or that some, or even many or all of those rules, are right and fair. In fact, the complete opposite might be true. They may all be stupid and unfair.

However, every competitor has agreed that, on balance, they would rather play by those stipulated rules than not play at all.

And so the competition unfolds. And Sophia Popov wins. And it’s a great story.

And suddenly, two of those rules don’t suit the narrative any more. And a whole bunch of people start screaming that the rules should be changed. Mid competition, as it were.

Understandable, perhaps, but point missing nonetheless.

It is somewhat ironic that this controversy be focussed on the ANA as it was at that tournament in 2017 a not dissimilar crisis occurred.

In that scenario, Lexi Thompson breached a rule and was subsequently assessed the proper penalty.

Yes, it was a severe penalty and yes it was (again) an unusual set of circumstances that led to it being imposed. But it was nonetheless the only legitimate course of action.

In that circumstance, too, some were calling for the rules not to be enforced correctly because there was a feeling the penalty was too harsh.

Ultimately, there were rules changes made in the wake of that incident and it is quite likely there will be changes made to at least one of the regulations affecting Popov in this circumstance.

But the same principle applies here as in 2017. The authorities can only enforce the rules as they stand, not as some might like to see them given a particular set of circumstances.

If the rules are bad or wrong the only recourse is to change them in the future, not mid competition. Rules and regulations are not a popularity contest, they are set to ensure a fair competition can be staged.

Sophia Popov gave all of golf something to rejoice at Troon and she has handled this difficult situation with great class.

She has every right to be disappointed and undoubtedly she is. However, she will be in the field next April for the ANA Inspiration as is her entitlement.

And she is safe in the knowledge that spot can’t be taken away because it was written in the rules when the competition started.