PGA Tour star repeats Rory McIlroy’s embarrassing schoolboy error at Scottish Open
PGA Tour Star’s Costly Misstep Mirrors Rory McIlroy’s Past Blunder
Mackenzie Hughes, a prominent PGA Tour player, found himself in a challenging situation at the Scottish Open that eerily echoed a past mishap of Rory McIlroy. On a pivotal Saturday, Hughes’ aspirations of climbing the leaderboard were thwarted before he could even take his first swing.
The Canadian golfer, poised at a promising eight-under-par and just four strokes behind the leader Ludvig Aberg, faced a critical setback at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. Scheduled to tee off at 2.45pm with Denmark’s Ryder Cup participant Nicolai Hojgaard, Hughes arrived late, a mistake that would cost him dearly. As soon as he reached the tee, officials delivered the grim news: he was late and would incur a two-shot penalty.
This unforeseen error transformed what should have been a straightforward par on the first hole into a double-bogey six, significantly hampering Hughes’ chances of advancing up the leaderboard. Despite his best efforts, Hughes had to battle the psychological blow of his mistake. Nevertheless, he demonstrated remarkable resilience by quickly regaining his form. Birdies on the third, sixth, and tenth holes brought a glimmer of hope, although a bogey on the twelfth hole set him back again. By the end of the day, Hughes carded a one-under round, putting him at nine-under for the tournament and seven shots behind the leader.
Rich Beem, a former PGA Championship winner, and Sky Sports commentator, expressed his surprise at Hughes’ lapse in punctuality, especially given the proximity of the practice green to the first tee. Hughes’ mistake was not just a blow to his scorecard but also to his potential earnings. Positioned at a tie for 19th, Hughes was looking at a £60,000 payout, yet a few spots higher on the leaderboard could have netted him over £80,000.
Hughes’ tardiness places him among a select group of golfers who have faced penalties for late arrivals. One of the most memorable instances involved Rory McIlroy at the 2012 Ryder Cup. Due to a timezone mix-up, McIlroy needed a police escort to reach the course in time, yet he still managed to secure a crucial point for Europe in the event known as “The Miracle at Medinah”.
Earlier this year, Tom Kim nearly faced a similar fate at The Genesis Invitational. Slated for an 8am start with Rickie Fowler, Kim lost track of time while practicing and had to sprint through the crowd to avoid a penalty. His quick reaction allowed him to finish the round at two-under-par, tying for 24th place in Los Angeles.
Reflecting on his close call, Kim noted, “We had 27 minutes to go when we first got to the putting green and it felt like only 15 minutes had gone by.” He added that he was shocked to learn he had just a minute left to tee off. His timely sprint saved him from a penalty and allowed him to shoot a two-under-par round.
“I was on the part of the green that was farthest away. And if I’m not there when we’re announced, it’s a two-shot penalty and I shoot even par today instead of two-under. I made sure I wasn’t late, and literally 10, 15 seconds later he called the tee. I was fortunate. I’m never late for tee times.”
Hughes’ misstep serves as a reminder of the meticulous timing required in professional golf, where even a minor lapse can have significant consequences.
