Categories
Tour News

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 for 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 First Round on the PGA Tour

Shock at the Farmers Insurance Open: Michael Brennan was disqualified from the tournament after the first round. The PGA Tour confirmed a breach of the so-called Model Rule G-11, as Brennan used unauthorized material to analyze the greens, deemed a clear violation by the Tour.

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

What Model Rule G-11 Permits and Prohibits

Effective since January 2022, the rule strictly limits the use of analytical aids. Only PGA Tour-approved yardage books, official information about pin positions, and a course overview in a maximum DIN A4 format are allowed.

Handwritten notes are permitted only if made by the player or their caddie, based solely on their own observations—such as tracking rolled or played balls and subjective impressions of the putting green. Detailed measurements or analyses made by others are explicitly prohibited.

The rule initially imposes a two-stroke penalty for a violation, with a further breach leading to disqualification. The PGA Tour has not disclosed when Brennan’s infractions occurred.

A Rule That Sparks Debate

The Model Rule G-11 has been controversial since its introduction. In 2022, Rory McIlroy, then president of the Player Advisory Council, defended the rule strongly. He stated many players had become complacent in reading greens, emphasizing that while the advantage was not huge, it diminished a skill that requires time and practice. “Green reading is an art,” McIlroy said, “and these aids negate individual strengths and advantages.”

German player Alex Cejka also fell foul of this rule shortly after its implementation, having been disqualified in 2022 for an unauthorized yardage book.