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Michael Brennan Disqualified at Farmers Insurance Open over Controversial Rule

Michael Brennan Disqualified at Farmers Insurance Open over Controversial Rule
Michael Brennan was disqualified on the PGA Tour due to a rules violation. (Photo: Getty)

Michael Brennan was disqualified at the Farmers Insurance Open due to a controversial rule after the first round.

Disqualification after First Round 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 that he violated the so-called Model Rule G-11 by using unauthorized materials to analyze the greens, which constitutes a clear breach of the rules from the Tour’s perspective.

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 limits the use of analysis aids. Only PGA Tour-approved yardage books, official information on pin positions, and a course overview in a maximum DIN A4 format are permitted.

Handwritten notes are only allowed if made by the player or their caddie and must be based on their own observations, such as watching putted or rolled balls and subjective impressions of the putting green. Detailed measurements or green analyses created by others are explicitly prohibited.

The rule initially imposes a two-stroke penalty for a violation, with disqualification occurring only after a further violation. The PGA Tour has not yet disclosed when Brennan’s infractions occurred.

A Rule Sparking Debate

Since its introduction, Model Rule G-11 has been a subject of discussion. In 2022, Rory McIlroy, then president of the players council, defended the rule strongly, stating many players had become too reliant on 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 negate individual strengths and advantages.”

German player Alex Cejka also faced disqualification under this rule in 2022 for using an unauthorized yardage book.