Garrick Higgo's PGA Championship got off to a rocky start Thursday morning, but not because of a wayward drive or a missed putt. The South African golfer was hit with a two-stroke penalty for being late to his 7:18 a.m. tee time—a costly mistake that immediately put him in a hole.

According to the PGA of America, Higgo was on the putting green warming up but wasn't "within the area defined as the starting point at his starting time." That technicality meant he had to start his round with a two-shot deficit, turning what would have been a routine par on the first hole into a frustrating six on his scorecard.

To his credit, Higgo didn't let the early setback derail his game. Through eight holes of his opening round, he managed to get one of those penalty strokes back with a birdie on the par-4 third, putting him at 1 over for the tournament. It's the kind of resilience that any golfer—amateur or pro—can admire when facing adversity on the course.

Higgo has some history at Quail Hollow, where last year's PGA Championship was held, having made the cut and finishing tied for 55th. But he's still searching for his first top-40 finish in a major championship. This week, he'll need to shake off the early hiccup and keep his focus if he wants to make a run at the leaderboard.

For golfers everywhere, Higgo's experience is a sharp reminder: whether you're teeing off in a major or just a weekend round with friends, always keep an eye on the clock. A little extra time on the putting green isn't worth two strokes on your scorecard.