Michael Brennan faced disqualification after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open held at Torrey Pines in San Diego, where he carded a two-under-par 70. The PGA Tour announced that Brennan breached Model Local Rule (MLR) G-11 by using “non-permitted green-reading materials.”
The circumstances surrounding the discovery of the breach remain unclear, whether it was self-reported, noticed by a rules official, or brought to attention by one of his fellow competitors during the round. In his group, Brennan played alongside Joe Highsmith and Frankie Capan III, while England’s Aaron Rai was set to participate but withdrew prior to the tournament without providing a reason.
Brennan, who turned professional in 2024 following his graduation from Wake Forest University, had started to make a name for himself in golf. Notably, he secured victory at the Bank of Utah Championship during his third outing on the PGA Tour last year, winning by four strokes through a sponsor exemption. This win granted him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, and he currently holds the 35th position in the Official World Golf Ranking.
MLR G-11 limits players to using committee-approved yardage books, hole location sheets, and course maps no larger than standard letter or A4 size. According to USGA regulations, the first breach results in a two-shot penalty, while a second violation leads to disqualification.
This season, Brennan is making his third appearance on the tour, having missed the cut at the Sony Open and finishing tied for 56th at The American Express championship, which was won by Scottie Scheffler. Meanwhile, Justin Rose finished the first 18 holes of the Farmers Insurance Open with a one-shot lead, and Brooks Koepka, upon returning to the PGA Tour, shot a 73.
While this setback is unfortunate for Brennan, it offers a crucial learning opportunity in his young professional career, reminding all players of the importance of adhering to the rules and regulations of the game.