From accidental ball kicks to slow-play warnings, we look back at the quirkiest and most memorable golf moments of 2025.
Golf mishaps and rule violations occur not only in amateur play but also bring drama to professional golf. As the year closes, let’s revisit some of the biggest blunders and noteworthy rule breaches in professional golf during 2025. Several standout incidents involved novel situations leading to various consequences from officials.
Bud Cauley’s Accidental Ball Kick: No Penalty Under Rule 9.6
During the final round of the 2025 Players Championship, a peculiar event occurred alongside a lengthy weather delay: Bud Cauley accidentally stepped on fellow competitor Lucas Glover’s ball. Golf rules clarified the incident immediately – under Rule 9.6, ball movement caused by an outside influence incurs no penalty, allowing Glover to replace his ball to its original spot. This highlighted differing regulations: while balls moved by natural forces are played as they lie, balls already marked and placed on the green must be returned to their position regardless of cause.
Shane Lowry’s Rule Mistake at the US Open: Double Bogey Taken in Good Spirits
At the 2025 US Open’s second round at Oakmont Country Club, Shane Lowry committed a rare rules infraction by lifting his ball on the 14th green without marking it first, violating Rule 14.1. This resulted in a one-stroke penalty turning the hole into a double bogey. Despite missing the cut by a wide margin, Lowry reacted humorously, calling it \”one of the dumbest things\” he’d done. Fellow player Rory McIlroy also laughed it off. Lowry corrected his procedure thereafter and continued to competitively fight each stroke.
Hannah Gregg’s Self-Disqualification at Amundi German Masters
During the Amundi German Masters 2025, American pro Hannah Gregg disqualified herself after signing an incorrect scorecard. A mistaken score of 3 instead of 4 on hole 14, a lower score than actually played, led to automatic disqualification per Rule 3.3b(3) once confirmed. Gregg found the error post-round and promptly notified the Tour. In a statement, she expressed disappointment over her oversight but was widely praised on social media for her honesty and openness.
Slow Play Scrutiny at British Open: J.J. Spaun Warned
The very first round of the 2025 British Open brought attention to slow play, with complaints from players like Marc Leishman about extremely slow progress—three hours for eight holes—while Rory McIlroy’s group played only eleven holes in four hours. Challenging links course layouts and changing weather contributed. Notably, US Open winner J.J. Spaun, along with Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, drew officials’ concern for excessive spacing behind the preceding group. Spaun received an official warning on the 17th hole for exceeding the 50-second limit on his second shot. A second warning would incur penalty strokes and carry over to the next round, increasing cut pressure.
Marcel Siem Disqualified on DP World Tour for Rule Violation
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