Garrick Higgo Assessed 'Late to the Tee' Penalty Garrick Higgo, a South African professional golfer, was penalized two strokes during the first round of the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, for arriving late to the tee. The penalty was imposed by the PGA of America Rule Committee, which cited Rule 5.3a of the competition’s regulations. Higgo’s delay occurred at 7:18 am, well before the scheduled starting time for the first hole, which was set at 9:00 am. According to the PGA’s Local Rules and Terms of the Competition, the starting point for the first hole is defined by specific markers on the course, including ropes, gallery stakes, green bike fencing, blue stakes, blue dots, or blue lines. Higgo was on the practice putting green at the time of his arrival but was not within the designated starting area. The committee determined that his failure to be at the starting point by the exact starting time constituted a breach of Rule 5.3a. Rule 5.3a outlines that a player’s round begins when they make a stroke to start their first hole, as specified in Rule 6.1a. The rule also mandates that players must be ready to play at their assigned starting time, which is treated as an exact moment—such as 9:00:00 am, not any time before 9:01 am. If a player arrives at the starting point and is ready to play but is more than five minutes late, they receive the general penalty for the first hole, which in this case was two strokes. The PGA of America’s ruling clarified that while arriving late to the tee is a violation, exceptions exist. For instance, if a player arrives at the starting point and is ready to play within five minutes of the scheduled time, they are only penalized with the general penalty.#pga_of_america #aronimink_golf_club #garrick_higgo #2026_pga_championship #newtown_square_pennsylvania
Garrick Higgo Penalized for Late Tee Time at PGA Championship South African golfer Garrick Higgo was assessed a two-stroke penalty for arriving late to his first-round tee time at the 2026 PGA Championship. The PGA of America announced the decision, citing Rule 5.3 of the Rules of Golf, which states players arriving no more than five minutes late to their scheduled tee time receive a two-stroke penalty. Higgo, who was scheduled to tee off at 7:18 a.m. alongside Michael Brennan and Shaun Micheel, arrived at the designated tee at 7:19 a.m., as reported by the ESPN broadcast. The delay resulted in a double bogey on the first hole. Higgo made a birdie on the third hole, bringing his score to 1-over par through eight holes. The PGA of America noted that Higgo was on the putting green but not “within the area defined as the starting point at his starting time” when he arrived. The penalty highlights the strict adherence to timekeeping in professional golf, where even minor delays trigger consequences. Higgo, a two-time PGA TOUR winner, is making his fourth appearance at the PGA Championship. This year’s event marks his third consecutive major championship, following his participation in the 2025 U.S. Open and 2025 Open Championship. Despite his experience, the penalty at Aronimink Golf Club underscores the challenges of maintaining precision in all aspects of the game. Higgo, who has yet to secure a top-40 finish in any major championship, is seeking to make his mark at the PGA Championship. The rules governing tee times are designed to ensure fairness and maintain competition integrity. Rule 5.3 explicitly states players must arrive at their designated tee time within the specified timeframe.#pga_of_america #pga_championship #garrick_higgo #michael_brennan #shaun_micheel
