Golf Fans Blast Garrick Higgo for His Explanation on Being Late at PGA Championship: “Kick Him off the Tour”

Garrick Higgo was handed a 2-stroke penalty at the start of the first round of the PGA Championship for arriving late at the first tee.

Golf Fans Blast Garrick Higgo for His Explanation on Being Late at PGA Championship: “Kick Him off the Tour”

Garrick Higgo (Image via PGA Tour)

On Thursday, Garrick Higgo found his name trending on social media after he was assessed a 2-stroke penalty for arriving late at the PGA Championship. Following the round, the golfer dropped a vague explanation for his late arrival, which caused further stir among fans.

Higgo was due to tee off at 7:18 a.m. local time at the Aroniminik Golf Club. He was grouped alongside 2003 champion Shaun Micheel and PGA Tour star Michael Brennan.

While the South African was on the practice range, he was not on time when his group teed off. He eventually was a few seconds late and was penalized under Rule 5.3a of the rules of golf.

As per this rule, a golfer is assessed a 2-stroke penalty if they arrive no more than 5 minutes late to their tee time. If a player arrives more than 5 minutes late, they are disqualified from the event.

As Higgo was just a few seconds late, he avoided getting disqualified. Due to this penalty, he went on to make a double bogey on the first hole.

Fortunately for him, he bounced back strongly. With 4 birdies and 1 bogey, the 2-time PGA Tour winner finished the opening round with a 1-under 69 score.

While speaking with an on-course reporter, the 27-year-old proceeded to make a big statement. He expressed that it was not his job to arrive at the course 10 minutes earlier.

I always cut it pretty fine. There’s a lot of us who do. We don’t want to get to the tee box 10 minutes early and be cold. We have to hit it far and straight. It’s our job to do that. I don’t really think it’s my job to be 10 minutes early.

Garrick Higgo said as per PGA Championship Radio

Higgo entered this competition as the World No. 85. He has struggled a bit this season and has not finished higher than T40 this season on the PGA Tour. Despite the 2-shot penalty, he remained calm and was T15 at the end of play on Thursday.

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Social media reacts to Garrick Higgo’s comments on arriving late at the PGA Championship

Even before he swung his golf club on Thursday, Garrick Higgo was 2-strokes down. The golfer was penalized for arriving late at the PGA Championship. His comments after the round led to some fans on social media blasting him.

Garrick Higgo
Garrick Higgo (Image via X/@Cam_Jourdan)

Several users on X slammed him for claiming it was not his job to arrive 10 minutes early. One frustrated user wrote, “Kick him off the tour,” while taking a swipe at him.

Check out some fan reactions regarding Higgo’s comments below:

For the second round on Friday, Higgo has a tee time of 12:43 a.m. local time. He and his group will play the back nine first, while starting on the 10th hole.

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Despite 2-shot penalty, Garrick Higgo remains close to the leaders at PGA Championship

It was far from an ideal start for Garrick Higgo on Thursday as he was handed a 2-stroke penalty for being late. Despite this fine, he remained close to the leaders after the first round of the second major event of the year.

Garrick Higgo
Garrick Higgo (Image vi Toronto Star)

While Higgo started with a double bogey, he made birdies on the 3rd and 9th holes to shoot an even par score on the front nine. After a bogey on the 10th hole, he made birdies on the 14th and 17th holes and wrapped the round with a score of 69.

Had he not been assessed the penalty, he would have been tied for 1st in the leaderboard. Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, Martin Kaymer, Alex Smalley, and defending champion Scottie Scheffler all shot 3-under 67 and are tied for the top spot.

Higgo’s last victory came at the Corales Puntacana Championship in April 2025. While there is still a long way to go, a victory for him here would become a huge story considering the start he had in the opening round.

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