Golfer disqualified from PGA Tour event in Mexico after ‘serious misconduct’ violation

Emilio Gonzalez, a Mexican golf pro, was disqualified from the PGA Tour’s World Wide Technology Championship after a “serious misconduct” violation. 

Gonzalez was participating in the second round of his country’s biggest tournament when he hit his tee shot on the 15th hole into a desert area on the golf course. 

The 27-year-old proceeded to hit a provisional second shot off the tee because his initial tee shot was lost. However, when looking for that second ball, Gonzalez appeared to find one in the rough. 

But the tournament’s officials determined that he had “failed to make reasonable efforts to identify the ball,” as he believed it to be his first tee shot. 

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“If the provisional ball has not become the ball in play and a ball is found that might be the original ball, the player must make all reasonable efforts to identify the ball,” the PGA Tour rules state. 

“If the player fails to do so, the Committee may disqualify the player under Rule 1.2a if it decides that this was serious misconduct to the spirit of the game.”

After deliberation, it was determined that Gonzalez had broken the rule, and he was cast out of the tournament in his home country. 

While this is a big blow for Gonzalez, won’t be docked any earnings, and he will be allowed to participate in PGA Tour Q School next month. 

Gonzalez, like many of the golfers in the field next month, is hoping to finish top-five in Q School as it would earn a promotion to the PGA Tour. 

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