PGA Tour winner docked two shots for turning up late on tee at Scottish Open

In a dramatic turn of events at the Genesis Scottish Open, two-time PGA Tour winner Mackenzie Hughes found himself facing an unexpected challenge. The 33-year-old Canadian golfer was hit with a two-shot penalty for arriving late to his 2:45 PM tee time during the third round at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick.

Hughes, who was paired with Nicolai Hojgaard, missed the customary arrival time on the 1st tee, typically five to seven minutes before the official start. The penalty was swift and in accordance with Rule 6-3, which states: “If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after the starting time, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play.” This meant Hughes’ par on the par-4 1st was recorded as a double-bogey six.

Rich Beem, former US PGA champion and current Sky Sports Golf commentator, expressed his disbelief at Hughes’ late arrival, especially given the proximity of the practice putting green, just 20 yards from the 1st tee.

Despite this setback, Hughes demonstrated resilience. He managed to regain the lost strokes quickly, sinking a birdie at the par-5 3rd and another with a remarkable chip-in birdie from the back of the par-3 6th. However, despite being level par through the first six holes, Hughes lost ground as other competitors posted low scores.

The Genesis Scottish Open, a prestigious event on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, features a $9 million purse, with the winner poised to claim a $1.62 million prize. Notable players in contention include Ludvig Aberg, Bob MacIntyre, and defending champion Rory McIlroy.

Hughes, who secured his first PGA Tour victory in a playoff at the 2016 RSM Classic and waited nearly six years for his second win at the 2022 Sanderson Farms Championship, is aiming to secure a spot on the International Presidents Cup team. Currently 18th in the standings, Hughes is striving to earn his place on Mike Weir’s squad, which will comprise the top six in the standings and six captain’s picks, competing at Royal Montreal GC from September 26-29.

As the tournament progresses, Hughes remains focused on his goal, undeterred by the initial setback. The golfing world watches closely to see if he can overcome this unexpected challenge and make a remarkable comeback.