Lehman Survives Gaffe

Tom Lehman thought he’d been disqualified Friday from the British Open.

He wasn’t, but it was almost as bad for the defending champion.

Lehman picked up a triple-bogey 7 on the second hole one of the easiest on the course when he was assessed a two-stroke penalty for failing to replace his ball marker.

He finished Friday with a 1-over 72 to put him 13 shots behind leader Darren Clarke.

Lehman moved the marker a club-head’s length to get it out of the way for partner Vijay Singh - and then forgot to return the marker to its original spot.

“I teed off on the next, then realized it. I thought, ‘Shoot, I didn’t put my marker back.’ I thought I’d be DQd and it would be an embarrassing walk in.”

“I’m mad at myself and my caddie. Ultimately the burden is on me to make sure that things are right. For two of us to miss that is nearly inexcusable.”