Garrick Higgo's PGA Championship Setback: Two-Shot Penalty for Late Tee Time

Garrick Higgo's PGA Championship Setback: Two-Shot Penalty for Late Tee Time

Garrick Higgo faced a setback at the PGA Championship as he received a two-shot penalty for being late to his tee time at Aronimink. The South African golfer was penalized for not being in the designated starting area at his scheduled 7:18 a.m. ET start time. The PGA rules committee determined that Higgo was on the practice putting green instead of the required starting point. This violation led to a double bogey for Higgo at the beginning of his round.

The rules sheet specifies that the starting area for the first and 10th tees is marked by the rope, gallery stakes, and bike fencing. By not being in this defined area at his starting time, Higgo breached Rule 5.3a. Despite the penalty, Higgo continued his round after the two-shot deduction.

Higgo's early penalty at the PGA Championship put him at a disadvantage right from the start of the tournament. The two-shot deduction for arriving late to the tee impacted his opening hole, resulting in a double bogey. Despite the setback, Higgo continued to compete in the championship following the penalty.

In conclusion, Garrick Higgo's PGA Championship got off to a challenging start as he received a two-shot penalty for arriving late to his tee time. The South African golfer's violation of Rule 5.3a by not being in the designated starting area led to a double bogey on his opening hole. Despite the penalty, Higgo continued to compete in the tournament, aiming to overcome the early setback and perform well in the championship.