Collin Morikawa blasts PGA Tour rules official for not meeting him on time
Collin Morikawa gives his side of the story after being docked two strokes before the final round of the Hero World Challenge.
Collin Morikawa has revealed his frustration at PGA Tour rules official Stephen Cox not meeting him on time in the locker room to talk to him about his eventual two-stroke penalty at Tiger Woods' Hero World Challenge.
The official PGA Tour communications department confirmed two-time major champion Morikawa had fallen foul of the rules with a statement posted at 5.14pm on Sunday December 3.
Morikawa was said to have been given the penalty for breaching Model Local Rule G-11 which restricts the use of green-reading materials.
The Tour said the breach occurred during Morikawa's third round on Albany's fourth hole.
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Morikawa had recorded a bogey on the hole but it was later changed to a seven.
He therefore started the fourth and final round at 8-under par instead of 10-under.
Collin Morikawa discusses rules violation at 2023 Hero World Challenge: "I'm not going to fight it. If I broke the rules, I broke the rules and that's on me." More: https://t.co/4AkIYZMG35 pic.twitter.com/okE9uC6wKk
— Golfweek (@golfweek) December 3, 2023
While Morikawa told reporters he was "not going to fight" the decision to penalise him two strokes, he did express frustration at rules official Cox taking his time to inform him of the decision in the locker room.
Morikawa, who went on to card a final-round 68 to finish solo 7th on 12-under par, said:
Morikawa added:
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler cruised to victory in the season-ending event of 2023.
Despite being recognised by the PGA Tour, the 20-man Hero World Challenge is not an official tournament on the circuit.
What do you make of Morikawa's two-stroke penalty? Should he and his caddie have known better? Is it a pointless rule? Share your comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
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