PGA Tour player Michael Brennan disqualified from Farmers Open for using non-conforming yardage book
SAN DIEGO — It's been a whirlwind three months for Wake Forest alum Michael Brennan. He made headlines when he captured the Bank of Utah Championship in his very first PGA Tour start, bypassing the Korn Ferry Tour after earning his card through the PGA Tour Americas 2025 points list.
However, Brennan's recent gaffe has cost him a spot in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. The PGA Tour announced in the evening on Thursday that Brennan had been disqualified for violating Model Local Rule G-11, which prohibits the use of non-permitted green-reading materials.
The tour provided no further details, and Brennan, aged 23, had yet to comment on social media as of late Thursday.
Brennan's rookie season got off to a promising start with a two-under-par 70 on the North Course, tying him for 55th place. He was fresh off a T-56 finish in The American Express and had narrowly missed the cut in the season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii.
The PGA Tour introduced Local Model Rule G-11 in January 2022, created by the USGA and R&A. This rule limits players to using yardage and green-reading materials distributed by the tour, aiming to return to a more traditional approach where players rely solely on their skill, judgment, and feel, along with experience, preparation, and practice.
According to the rule, a one-time violation results in a two-stroke penalty, while a second infraction leads to disqualification. This rule has already had its first impact, as Alex Cjeka was disqualified for using an unapproved yardage book in the third round of the PGA Tour Champions Regions Tradition tournament in Alabama.
The rule sparked some controversy, as players had become accustomed to using detailed books for green reading. While these books were seen as a crutch by some, they also contributed to a slower pace of play.
Rory McIlroy, who was the president of the Players Advisory Council when the rule was introduced, expressed his concerns: "It's not about an advantage; it's about taking away a skill that requires time and practice to master. Reading greens is a genuine skill, and this rule nullifies the natural advantage some players have."
"I think it's made everyone lazier," McIlroy added. "People don't put in the time to prepare the way they used to."
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
