Michael Brennan made headlines just three months ago after winning his first PGA Tour appearance. Fast forward to this week and he’s in the news for a variety of reasons.
Brennan, 23, was disqualified after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Thursday. In a brief statement, the PGA Tour said the disqualification was due to “a violation of Model Local Rule G-11, the use of unauthorized green reading materials.”
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Model Local Rule G-11 goes into effect in 2022 and covers course mapping features and green contour displays, as well as “commission-approved” yardage books.
The rules state: “During a round, players may only use yardage books approved by the committee.” “This restriction also applies to other maps of the course, including hole location sheets. Additional restrictions apply to handwritten notes and other materials that help players read the line of play on the putting green.”
A memo to the tour announcing the rule in 2021 says its purpose is to “return players and caddies to the position of reading the line of play on the putting green using only their skill, judgment and feel, along with information gained from experience, preparation and practice.”
The tour has not disclosed the nature of the violation and has not yet responded to GOLF.com’s request for comment.
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Brennan opened the Farmers with a 2-under 70 on the Nordschleife and was tied for 55th before the DQ. The PGA Tour rookie started the season by missing the cut at the Sony Open and tied for 56th at last week’s American Express.
Back in October, Brennan received a sponsorship exemption for the Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort and won his first PGA Tour match as a professional by four margins, allowing him to skip the Korn Ferry Tour and earn a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
The article Post-PGA Tour rookie disqualified for using unauthorized green reading materials first appeared in Golf.
