When Rules Aren't Rules

If a player misses his tee time for a pro-am on most major tours, the result is disqualification from the tournament. On Wednesday in Puerto Rico, two-time PGA Tour winner D.J. Trahan missed his 4:11 pro-am tee time but wasn't disqualified. Robert Garrigus, who would have gotten into the field had Trahan been disqualified, was understandably miffed and puzzled. 

The most notable application of the rule occurred in 2010. Jim Furyk, playing in the first FedEx Cup playoff event, overslept and missed the Barclays Wednesday pro-am by five minutes. By rule, he was DQ'd from the event. The following week, the PGA Tour suspended the rule for the rest of the season but later reinstated it with a caveat. 

The rule now states that a player will be disqualified from the event unless he provides evidence of an injury that requires medical attention or a family emergency, such as a funeral, illness, or other "extenuating circumstances".

Players only play nine holes in the pro-am, and alternates are on call in the event a player is injured or doesn't show up. The alternate for the pro-am in Puerto Rico was Tommy Gainey, and he replaced Trahan. That presumably also opened up a spot in the tournament field, and Gainey texted his friend Garrigus to let him know that Trahan hadn’t shown up. Garrigus was the first alternate for the tournament, which started on Thursday. 

According to people I spoke with, the Tour reached Trahan in his room on the resort property, about five minutes from the course, a few minutes after his scheduled tee time. Though the turn tee times were running a bit behind, Trahan said he didn't realize he was in the pro-am, although according to other players, both a text and email are sent to players with their tee times. Also, according to sources, Trahan's caddie received the tee-time text and was at the course with Trahan's clubs. According to multiple people, when Trahan was told he had missed his tee time, he said he was sick, although according to sources, he didn't inform anyone from the Tour in advance. Players who withdraw from a pro-am due to injury or illness must do so in a reasonable amount of time before their tee time. 

According to Garrigus and others after informing Trahan he had missed the time, the rules official told Trahan to "stay put" and that he would get back to him after he spoke with the other rules officials. After a long deliberation, the rules committee decided that Trahan would not be disqualified but would be subject to other disciplinary action, including a fine. He would also have to visit a sponsor’s tent during the event. Which prompted Garrigus to question why he was punished if the missed tee time fell under the “extenuating circumstances” clause.

Informed by Tour officials of their decision, Garrigus asked for clarification, but he said he never got any outside of the first rules official telling Trahan to “stay put”.  He said he was told there were extenuating circumstances, but there was no elaboration. 

The PGA Tour sent me the following statement about the incident: 

“D.J. Trahan was not present for the start of his pro-am at the Puerto Rico Open. PGA Tour tournament regulations provide for the Rules Committee to evaluate extenuating circumstances in deciding whether or not a player is ineligible for the tournament, and also provide that the player may be required to complete play with the group if practical. After reviewing the situation in its entirety, the Rules Committee determined that Trahan was not subject to disqualification, but is subject to a substitute tournament function and other items as outlined by the regulations.”

My follow up email asking for clarification on the extenuating circumstances went unanswered. 

"It's hard not to think this was a personal decision," Garrigus told me in a phone call. "This isn't anything against D.J. He missed his tee time. The rule is pretty clear, I'm pissed." Garrigus said he asked for clarification from Tyler Dennis, Executive Vice President at the PGA Tour, whom Garrigus believes made the final decision. Multiple texts sent by Garrigus to Dennis went unanswered. 

"Tyler Dennis is a coward," Garrigus said. When I asked him if that statement was on the record, he replied, "Yeah, maybe it will get him to actually talk with me." 

I reached out to Trahan by text but got no response. 

Trahan was 1 over par through 13 holes and eight shots back of the leaders when play was suspended due to darkness on Thursday. Garrigus was on a plane home.

"I should be playing right now,” he said, “and that sucks."