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PGA Tour Player Michael Brennan Disqualified Over Controversial Rule

PGA Tour Player Michael Brennan Disqualified Over Controversial Rule
Michael Brennan was disqualified on the PGA Tour due to a rules violation. (Photo: Getty)

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

In a shock development at the Farmers Insurance Open, Michael Brennan was disqualified after the first round. The PGA Tour confirmed he violated the so-called Model Rule G-11 by using unauthorized materials to analyze the greens, which the Tour viewed as a clear breach of rules.

At the time of the disqualification, the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship winner was tied for 55th place at two under par.

What the "Model Rule G-11" Allows and Prohibits

Effective since January 2022, this rule significantly limits the use of analytical aids. Only PGA Tour-approved yardage books, official flag position information, and a course overview no larger than A4 size are permitted.

Handwritten notes are allowed only if made by the player or caddie 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 expressly forbidden.

The rules initially impose a two-stroke penalty for violations, with disqualification occurring after a subsequent offense. The PGA Tour has not disclosed precisely when Brennan violated these rules.

A Rule That Sparks Debate

The Model Rule G-11 has been controversial since its introduction. In 2022, Rory McIlroy, then the players’ council president, defended it strongly, saying many players had grown too reliant on such aids when 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 nullify individual strengths and advantages."

German player Alex Cejka was also penalized under this rule after its introduction, having been disqualified in 2022 due to an unauthorized yardage book.