A professional golfer from South Africa faced an early setback at the PGA Championship on Thursday morning when he was hit with a two-stroke penalty for failing to arrive on time for his opening round tee time in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
The 27-year-old Garrick Higgo was supposed to begin play at 7:18 a.m. at Aronimink Golf Club, where he was paired with Michael Brennan and Shaun Micheel for the round.
The penalty resulted in Higgo recording a double bogey on the first hole, which is a par-4. However, he managed to bounce back with birdies on the third and ninth holes, allowing him to reach the turn at even par for the round.
Currently ranked 85th in the world, Higgo has claimed victory twice on the PGA Tour during his professional career. This marks his fourth time competing in the PGA Championship, as he continues seeking his first top-40 result in any major tournament.
