From ball kicks to rule blunders and slow-play warnings – we look back at the quirkiest and most memorable golf moments of the year.Not only in amateur golf but also in the professional sport, incidents and rule breaches often create thrilling moments. As 2025 comes to a close, we review the biggest blunders and most interesting rule violations in professional golf. Several outstanding scenarios emerged this year, some unprecedented, resulting in varying consequences from officials.
Bud Cauley’s Accidental Ball Kick at Players Championship 2025
On the final day of the Players Championship 2025, amidst a long weather delay, a bizarre scene unfolded when Bud Cauley accidentally kicked the ball of his playing partner Lucas Glover. However, according to Rule 9.6, movement of a ball caused by an outside influence is not penalized, allowing Glover to simply replace his ball to its original position. This incident highlights different regulations: balls moved by natural forces must generally be played from their new spot, while a ball already placed on the green must always be replaced to its spot regardless of how it moved.
Shane Lowry’s US Open Rule Mistake Turns Into Double Bogey With Humor
During the second round of the 2025 US Open at Oakmont Country Club, Shane Lowry committed a rare rule violation by picking up his ball on the 14th green without marking it first, a direct breach of Rule 14.1. This resulted in a one-stroke penalty turning the hole into a double bogey. Despite being well over par and later missing the cut by a wide margin, Lowry took the mistake with humor, calling it \”one of the dumbest things\” he’s ever done. Fellow competitor Rory McIlroy also reacted with laughter. Lowry then properly marked his ball, continued play, and emphasized his determination to fight for every stroke despite the mishap.
Self-Disqualification and Slow Play Warnings Affect Pro Players in 2025
At the Amundi German Masters 2025, US professional Hannah Gregg self-disqualified after signing an incorrect scorecard where a 3 was recorded instead of the actual 4 on the 14th hole. Under Rule 3.3b(3), confirming a lower score than actually made leads to automatic disqualification. Gregg discovered the mistake on the way home and immediately informed the tour. Her honesty was widely praised on social media, with her post accumulating hundreds of thousands of views.
Slow play was also spotlighted during the 2025 British Open, where players like Marc Leishman complained about extreme delays—three hours for eight holes—while Rory McIlroy’s group played only eleven holes in four hours. US Open winner J.J. Spaun was officially warned on the 17th hole for exceeding the permitted 50 seconds for a second shot, with a second warning risking a stroke penalty and additional pressure in the cut race. Reports mention even Jon Rahm’s caddie defending Spaun to the officials.
On the DP World Tour, Marcel Siem faced disappointment after disqualification for playing a provisional ball at the 18th hole despite locating his original ball in a penalty area—a breach of Rule 18.3c(3). Siem