Michael Brennan was disqualified by the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open due to a controversial rule, ending his run after round one.
Disqualification after Round One on the PGA Tour
In a shock development at the Farmers Insurance Open, Michael Brennan was disqualified after the first round. The PGA Tour confirmed a breach of the so-called Model Rule G-11, stating that Brennan used unauthorized materials to analyze the greens, constituting a clear rules violation from the Tour’s perspective.
At the time of his disqualification, the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship winner was tied for 55th place at two under par.
What Model Rule G-11 Allows and Prohibits
Effective since January 2022, this rule severely restricts the use of analysis aids. Only PGA Tour-approved yardage books, official information on hole locations, and a course overview in a maximum A4 format are permitted.
Handwritten notes may only be made by the player or their caddie, and only based on their own observations, such as watching rolled or played balls or subjective impressions of the putting green. Detailed measurements or third-party green analyses are explicitly forbidden.
The rule initially imposes a two-stroke penalty for a violation, with disqualification following a subsequent breach. The PGA Tour has not yet clarified the exact timing of Brennan’s infractions.
A Rule That Sparks Debate
Model Rule G-11 has been controversial since its introduction. In 2022, Rory McIlroy, then president of the players’ council, defended the rule strongly, stating that many players had become too reliant on aids when reading greens. “It’s not a huge advantage,” McIlroy said, “but it removes a skill that requires time and practice. Green reading is an art, and these aids negate individual strengths and advantages.”
German player Alex Cejka was also impacted by this rule shortly after its introduction; he was disqualified 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