PGA Tour star disqualified after being caught with illegal item | Golf | Sport
A promising talent on the PGA Tour has been thrown out of the Farmers Insurance Open after being found with prohibited equipment. Many fans flocked to the opening round of the event to see Brooks Koepka make his maiden appearance since his return from LIV Golf.
Though he enjoyed an enthusiastic reception from spectators at Torrey Pines, the five-time major winner was quickly reminded of the demanding nature of Tour competition. Overshadowed by the buzz surrounding Koepka’s eagerly awaited comeback was Michael Brennan’s disqualification, who sat T55 after an impressive first round where he posted a 2-under 70.
His penalty follows three additional LIV Golf players submitting applications for PGA Tour reinstatement before the approaching cut-off date.
The official PGA Tour communications team confirmed that Brennan breached Model Local Rule G-11 through the use of unauthorised green-reading materials. Players are restricted to committee-sanctioned yardage books and hole location sheets, alongside a complete course map no bigger than letter or A4 size.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) provides additional clarification on MLR G-11 limitations, explaining: “Handwritten notes may be added to an approved yardage book or approved hole-location sheet before or during the round by the player or the player’s caddie only and are limited to information gathered by the player or caddie only.
“Handwritten notes may contain information gained only through personal experiences of the player or the player’s caddie from the course or by watching a televised broadcast, but are limited to information gained: While observing a ball that was rolled or played (whether by the player, caddie or someone else), or through the player’s or caddie’s feel or general observations of the putting green.”
According to USGA regulations, players who breach MLR G-11 will receive a two-stroke penalty, with a second infringement leading to immediate disqualification.
Thursday’s disqualification marks a crushing blow for Brennan, who claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory last October while competing on a sponsor exemption at the Bank of Utah Championship.
The four-stroke triumph secured the Wake Forest graduate a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. “It’s just amazing,” he remarked at the time.
“I have to thank the tournament director and their exemption crew to get me in this week. It means a lot.
“I think my agent, Terry, he put a lot of work in to get me a start, and look how it’s turned out. It paid out pretty good.
“I feel like maybe I have an idea what clicked, but I’m really not 100% sure. I’ll take it and hope to continue playing solid golf.
“Been my dream for a very long time to play on the PGA Tour and win on the PGA Tour, so, yeah, it feels amazing to do it. Just very thankful to even be in the field this week.”
Before this year’s Farmers Insurance Open, Brennan failed to make the cut at the Sony Open and ended up in T56 position at The American Express this season.
