Garrick Higgo walked onto the first tee at Aronimink Golf Club on Thursday already two strokes in the hole before hitting a single shot. The penalty for tardiness? Late to his 7:18 a.m. tee time. But Higgo had a ready-made excuse: the cold.
According to the PGA of America, Higgo was still warming up on the practice green when he should have been on the tee. The rule is clear: one second late is late. So he started his round with a double bogey before the ball even left the clubface.
Yet, in a twist that might make for a decent sports movie, Higgo didn't let the penalty derail his round. He bounced back to finish at one-under par, just two shots off the lead. That kind of resilience is exactly what you want in a golfer, even if his reasoning for the delay raised a few eyebrows.
In an interview with ESPN's Marty Smith, Higgo explained his side. 'The rule is if you're one second late, you're late. I was obviously there on time, but late – that's a two-stroke penalty,' he said. 'I guess I could have taken five minutes longer. Obviously, it's unfortunate. It was cold this morning so I was trying to stay as warm as possible.'
His comments didn't sit well with golf fans on social media, who quickly labeled him unlikable and entitled. One fan wrote on X: 'Embarrassing for him and embarrassing for ESPN devoting this much time to it.' Another fan added: 'Somebody needs to put this guy in check. Maybe don't show up late to your tee time and complain about an established rule.' A third chimed in: 'Not gonna lie… Garrick Higgo sounded a bit entitled. Kind of made a fool out of himself.'
Higgo's interview is just the latest in a series of off-course dramas at this year's PGA Championship. Earlier, Jon Rahm's club smash hit a volunteer, sparking outrage, while Bryson DeChambeau's nightmare start had fans questioning his YouTube obsession. The cold-weather excuse might be a new one, but it's certainly not the most bizarre story of the week.
Higgo will try to redeem himself in Friday's second round. One thing's for sure: he's unlikely to be late again. The clock is ticking, and so is his chance to make a better impression on the fans.
