Garrick Higgo learned a tough lesson at the PGA Championship on Thursday: in professional golf, being fashionably late comes with a serious price tag.
The South African arrived at the first tee box at Aronimink Golf Club an estimated 30 seconds after his scheduled 7:18 a.m. tee time. The result? A two-stroke penalty before he even took his first swing. Suddenly, his opening drive counted as his third shot of the day.
"I was there on time," Higgo said. "But the rule is if you're one second late, you're late."
Despite the brutal start, the 27-year-old showed remarkable composure. He carded a 1-under 69, finishing with four birdies and just one bogey. It's a round that could easily have been a 67 — which would have been the low score of the morning wave. Instead, he's left wondering what might have been.
The penalty came as Higgo was told upon arrival that he had missed his official tee time. PGA rules require a golfer to be on the tee box and ready to play at the assigned time, regardless of the order of play. He was scheduled to go third in his group, but the clock doesn't wait for anyone.
Higgo admitted his caddie was "yelling at me to get to the tee," and while the penalty wasn't a complete shock, it was a first for the pro. "It wasn't great," he said. "I knew that I firstly had to get a driver, and I have to hit a tee shot. It was OK. I just kind of focused on what I need to do."
He even managed to "par" the opening hole — but his 4 became a 6 on the scorecard. The silver lining? If he had been five minutes late, he would have been disqualified entirely.
Higgo tried to argue his case with officials after the round, even with support from his playing partners. He believed he was within the time limit, but conceded he might have been a bit tardy and grudgingly accepted his fate. He attributed the mishap to a casual approach — a reminder that in major championship golf, every second counts.
For fans and players alike, it's a stark reminder: when it comes to your tee time, early isn't just polite — it's the difference between a 67 and a 69.