Michael Brennan was disqualified by the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open due to a controversial rule after round one.
Disqualification After Round One on the PGA Tour
Shock at the Farmers Insurance Open: Michael Brennan was disqualified after the first round. The PGA Tour confirmed a violation of the so-called Model Rule G-11, as Brennan used unauthorized materials to analyze the greens. This is considered a clear breach of the rules by the Tour.
At the time of disqualification, the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship winner was tied for 55th place, two strokes under par.
What the “Model Rule G-11” Allows and Prohibits
Since January 2022, the rule significantly restricts the use of analytical aids. Only PGA Tour-approved yardage books, official flagstick position information, and course overview sheets no larger than A4 are permitted.
Handwritten notes may only be made by the player or caddie based on personal observations, such as rolled or played balls and subjective impressions of the putting green. Detailed measurements or third-party green analyses are explicitly forbidden.
The rule states that the first violation results in a two-stroke penalty, and only a subsequent violation leads to disqualification. The PGA Tour has not disclosed when Brennan’s infractions occurred.
A Rule That Sparks Debate
Since its introduction, Model Rule G-11 has been controversial. In 2022, Rory McIlroy, then president of the Players Council, defended it strongly, stating many players had become complacent reading greens. “It’s not a huge advantage,” McIlroy said, “but it takes away a skill that requires time and practice. Reading greens is an art, and these aids remove individual strengths and advantages.”
German player Alex Cejka was also disqualified under this rule in 2022 for using an unauthorized yardage book.
Hole locations for the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open pic.twitter.com/P4L6jEz39B
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) January 31, 2026