Golf star slapped with huge ban after ‘serious breach of behaviour’ | Golf | Sport

In a rare occurrence, professional golfer Cedric Gugler has been banned from 10 tournaments, prompting an urgent meeting of the panel. As the HotelPlanner’s season is about to kick off, Gugler will be absent for the first five months due to his “reckless infringement of the rules of golf,” as stated by the European Golf Tour.

Gugler found himself in hot water in the Czech Republic, being disqualified after the first round of the Raiffeisenbank Golf Challenge following repeated rule breaches on the greens. In early November, the panel concluded that Gugler had “conducted himself in a manner that fell below the standards of behaviour and ethical conduct expected of Tour members.”

The statement announcing his suspension read: “He was disqualified from the tournament after playing his ball from the wrong place on putting surfaces on multiple occasions,”.

Following these infringements, it was decided that there had been “a serious breach of the Tour’s Code of Behaviour” warranting disciplinary action.

Gugler, who had illegally marked his ball, now faces the consequences as the season commences with the SDC Open in South Africa at the end of January, an event where Gugler will not be competing.

“The Independent Disciplinary Panel – comprising Philip Evans KC, sports administrator Ian Larsen and Legends Tour Member Markus Brier – ruled that Gugler’s conduct was a serious breach of the Tour’s Code of Behaviour by virtue of a reckless infringement of the Rules of Golf,” said a tour statement.

He has also competed several times on the DP World Tour, most remarkably securing a T-4 finish in the 2024 Omega European Masters.

“I love playing in front of big crowds on the big stage and it makes me stronger as a golfer,” Gugler said at the time. “It was so special to play on the DP World Tour and that’s where I feel I belong in the future. My aim is to get there as quick as possible.”

Gugler made 18 appearances on the HotelPlanner Tour this season and struggled considerably, earning less than £3,100 and failing to make the cut in seven of 10 attempts.

Gugler will return to competition after the opening 10 events conclude, although no confirmed date has been set as the schedule remains unfinished.

This article first appeared on Mirror US.