Michael Brennan was disqualified from the Farmers Insurance Open by the PGA Tour due to a controversial rule violation after round one.
Disqualification After Round One on the PGA Tour
In a shocking turn 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, stating Brennan used unauthorized equipment to analyze the greens, a clear breach according to the Tour.
At the time of disqualification, the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship winner stood at two under par, tied for 55th place.
What the “Model Rule G-11” Allows and Prohibits
Effective since January 2022, this rule significantly restricts the use of analysis tools. Only PGA Tour-approved yardage books, official flagstick position data, and course overviews no larger than A4 are permitted.
Handwritten notes can only be added by the player or their caddie, based solely on their own observations, such as ball rolls or subjective impressions of the putting green. Detailed measurements or third-party green analyses are explicitly forbidden.
The rule initially penalizes violations with two strokes, with a subsequent violation resulting in disqualification. The PGA Tour has not specified when Brennan’s infractions occurred.
A Rule Sparking Debate
Since its introduction, Model Rule G-11 has sparked discussion. In 2022, Rory McIlroy, then president of the Player Advisory Council, defended it strongly, noting that many players had become too reliant on technology for green reading. “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 negate individual strengths and advantages.”
German pro Alex Cejka also fell foul of this rule in 2022, being disqualified 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