PGA Tour rookie Michael Brennan was disqualified after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open for using non-permitted green-reading materials. The 23-year-old shot a two-under 70 on Torrey Pines' North Course before the breach of Model Local Rule G-11 was discovered. This marks a setback for the recent winner of his professional debut.
Michael Brennan, a 23-year-old PGA Tour rookie, faced an abrupt end to his week at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday, January 30, 2026. After completing the first round on the North Course at Torrey Pines with a solid two-under-par 70—featuring four birdies and two bogeys—he was disqualified for violating Model Local Rule G-11. The PGA Tour's statement cited the breach as involving "use of non-permitted green-reading materials."
Model Local Rule G-11, implemented in 2022, restricts players to using only Committee-approved yardage books during a round. It also limits maps, hole-location sheets, and handwritten notes to information gathered personally by the player or caddie, aiming to emphasize "skill, judgment and feel along with any information gained through experience, preparation and practice" for reading putting lines, as outlined in a 2021 Tour memo. The rule prohibits materials that could assist in green reading, such as detailed contour displays or unapproved notes. A first breach incurs a general penalty, while a second results in disqualification.
The Tour has not detailed the specific nature of Brennan's infraction despite requests for comment. This incident echoes a 2023 case involving Collin Morikawa, who received a two-stroke penalty for a similar violation at the Hero World Challenge—though some reports described it as a disqualification. Morikawa later reflected on the confusion: "I think with the players there is still some confusion. I think there needs to be a clear line with how the rules are going."
Brennan's disqualification is particularly stinging given his rapid rise. Just three months prior, in October 2025, he won the Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort by four shots in his first professional PGA Tour start, earning a sponsor's exemption and a two-year Tour exemption while skipping the Korn Ferry Tour. Now ranked No. 35 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Brennan had started his season with a missed cut at the Sony Open and a tie for 56th at the American Express. At 23, this early lesson in rules compliance could shape his promising career.
