Garrick Higgo gets two‑stroke penalty for late tee
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- Garrick Higgo was penalized two strokes for arriving one minute late to his Thursday morning tee time at the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.
- The PGA of America said Higgo was practicing on the putting green but was not within the defined starting point area, violating Rule 5.3a.
- Higgo made par on the first hole but recorded a double‑bogey 6 after the penalty, then finished the round with a one‑under‑par 69, staying within a few shots of the lead.
- The tournament allowed Higgo to remain in the field under an exception to Rule 5.3a, which permits arrival up to five minutes late at the starting point.
- David Lipsky received a similar two‑stroke penalty for being late to his second‑round tee time at the 2019 PGA Championship, showing the rarity of such enforcement.
Why it matters: Higgo loses two strokes, dropping his round from a potential 71 to 69, narrowing his chance to contend for the title, while the PGA reinforces its timing rules, reminding all competitors of strict compliance.
