Updated April 04, 2017 13:44:21

Photo: The fans' cheers reduced Lexi Thompson to tours en route to the 18th green. (AP: Alex Gallardo)

American golf star Lexi Thompson is set to take three weeks off after her brutally painful loss at the year's first LPGA major in California.

Thompson was leading by three strokes after 12 holes in the last round when she was informed by officials she had been retroactively docked four strokes for an infringement in the previous round.

As it turned out, a home viewer had emailed organisers to point out she had moved her ball marginally after marking it on the 17th green of the third round at Mission Hills.

The 22-year-old managed to regain her composure and forced a playoff with So Yeon Ryu, which she lost on the first hole.

Thompson, who won the major as a 19-year-old in 2014, said it was support from the roaring crowd that helped drive her through the finish line.

"I want to thank the amazing fans out on the course for all their support. Their cheering helped get me through those last 6 holes," she wrote on Instagram.

"Hearing all the fans cheer me on after every shot, going to every tee, truly brought tears to my eyes every time."

Unfortunately, in so heartily rooting for Thompson, both her playing partner through 18, Norway's Suzann Pettersen, and the eventual champion were somewhat slighted by the fans.

Thompson said she did not want to steal focus from Ryu.

"She fought extremely hard and played amazing golf," she said.

"I don't want anything that happened yesterday to take away from Seo Yun's (sic) victory."

Photo: Thompson was reduced to tears by the fans' vocal support on a number of occasions. (Reuters: Gary A Vasquez/USA Today)

Officials acknowledged during the final round on Monday (AEST) that there was no intention in her actions and Thompson reiterated that on Tuesday.

She also appeared to bear no ill will towards the people who made the decision.

"The LPGA rules officials made a judgment call at the moment, and we as professional golfers must accept it, no matter how painful it is," she said.

"What happened was not intentional at all, I would never do that purposely. And I hope everyone knows that."

The controversy distracted from a superb final round, during which Thompson carded seven birdies, including one on the 13th hole immediately after being informed of the penalty.

She said she could take a lot of positives from the tournament, but the three-week break was "very needed".

Photo: Lexi Thompson somehow regained her composure after being retroactively docked four strokes. (AP: Alex Gallardo)

Topics: golf, sport, united-states

First posted April 04, 2017 08:28:28