Michael Brennan was disqualified by the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open due to a controversial rule after the first round.
Disqualification After First Round on the PGA Tour
Shock at the Farmers Insurance Open: Michael Brennan was dismissed from the tournament after the first round. The PGA Tour confirmed a violation of the so-called Model Rule G-11. Brennan used unauthorized material for green analysis, which the Tour regards as a clear rule breach.
At the time of 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 restricts the use of analysis aids. Only PGA Tour-approved yardage books, official pin position information, and a course overview up to DIN A4 size are permitted.
Handwritten notes may only be made by the player or caddie based on their own observations, including rolled or played balls and subjective putting green impressions. Detailed measurements or analyses created by others are explicitly prohibited.
The rule initially imposes a two-stroke penalty for violations, with disqualification only after a second offense. The exact timing of Brennan’s violations has not yet been disclosed by the PGA Tour.
A Rule With Controversial Debate
Since its introduction, Model Rule G-11 has sparked discussions. In 2022, then-player council president Rory McIlroy defended the rule strongly, stating many players had grown complacent in 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 erase individual strengths and advantages.”
German player Alex Cejka also encountered the rule shortly after its introduction, being disqualified in 2022 for 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