PGA Tour overturn pro-am rule

Tour change pro-am rule after Furyk disqualified

Just week after Jim Furyk was disqualified for missing a pro-am tee time, the PGA Tour has abandoned the rule that saw him sidelined for the first Fed-Ex Cup play-off.

Furyk, who has two wins in 2010 and was third in the FedEx Cup points heading into the Barclays at Ridgewood Golf Club, was late for his pro-am tee time at the event after a malfunction with his mobile phone alarm.

As a result, the American was disqualified from the main event, causing him to drop to eighth in the FedEx Cup standings going into the Deutsche Bank Championship this week.

However, just a week after the decision, which caused uproar amongst Furyk’s fellow tour players, including world No.2 Phil Mickelson, the Tour has abandoned the rule.

It released a statement reading: “Hereafter, should a player be late for his pro-am starting time, the situation will be handled as a matter of unbecoming conduct.

“Such player will be required to participate in the remainder of the pro-am round and may be required to perform additional sponsor activity. A player who misses his pro-am obligation in its entirety will still be rules ineligible for the tournament unless he has been excused in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.”

Despite the mix-up, Furyk released a statement praising the Tour for reversing the policy, saying: “I am glad the PGA Tour has changed the rule surrounding my disqualification from last week’s Barclay’s Championship.

“Pro-ams are an integral part of our success out here on the PGA Tour, but I’m extremely pleased that Commissioner Finchem and the Tour staff have reacted swiftly and modified the rule.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered