GOLF star Garrick Higgo was slapped with a two-shot penalty after being ONE MINUTE late to the PGA Championship.
Higgo, 27, was due to tee off at 7.18am (12.18pm UK time) earlier today at Aronimink Golf Club. in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
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Garrick Higgo was slapped with a two-shot penalty after being one minute late Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Higgo could have been disqualified from the PGA Championship if he was over five minutes late Credit: Getty Images – Getty
According to Sky Sports, however, the South African golfer arrived at 7.19am to partner up with former Major champion Shaun Micheel and PGA Tour player Michael Brennan.
The Johannesburg native was on the practice putting green but not within the area defined as the starting point at his starting time and was thus penalised.
According to Rule 5.3a, a golf player’s round starts when they make a stroke to start their first hole, along with a player being ready to play at the starting time and starting point set by the committee.
Higgo was there within five minutes of his scheduled time, meaning he had a two-shot penalty applied to the first hole and saw his two-putt par turn into a double-bogey six.
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The PGA of America’s local rules and terms state the starting point for holes one and ten is by the rope, gallery stakes, green bike fencing and/or blue stakes, blue dots or blue lines.
Higgo was away from that aforementioned area at his official tee time.
And had the golfer been over five minutes late then he would have faced disqualification.
Rory McIlroy also dealt with some drama as he was forced into a major clothing change.
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That was after a blister on McIlroy’s little toe cut his PGA Championship practice round short.
The Masters champion opted for a bigger shoe and a different style for the tournament.
McIlroy said: “It’s fine. I felt very soft having to walk in because of a little toe but I figured it out by separating the little toe from the other ones and having a bit of cushion around it definitely helps.
