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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 the first round.

Disqualification After Round One on the PGA Tour

In a major shock at the Farmers Insurance Open, Michael Brennan was removed from the tournament 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 was a clear breach of the rules according to the Tour.

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

What Model Rule G-11 Permits and Prohibits

Effective since January 2022, this rule significantly restricts the use of analytical aids. Only PGA Tour approved yardage books, official information on pin placements, and a course overview of maximum DIN A4 size are permitted.

Handwritten notes may only be made by the player or their caddie, based solely on their own observations. This includes observations of rolled or played balls and subjective impressions of the putting green. Detailed measurements or analyses created by others are explicitly prohibited.

The rules initially impose a two-stroke penalty for violations; only a subsequent violation results in disqualification. The PGA Tour has not yet disclosed when Brennan committed the infractions.

A Rule Sparking Ongoing Debate

Since its introduction, Model Rule G-11 has been the subject of debate. In 2022, Rory McIlroy, then president of the Players Advisory Council, defended the rule emphatically, stating that many players had grown complacent 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 eliminate individual strengths and advantages.”

German player Alex Cejka was also affected by the rule shortly after its implementation, facing disqualification in 2022 for using an unauthorized yardage book.