In Thursday's opening round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, Higgo’s arrival on property before his starting time did not guarantee him a smooth start. According to the Flushing It X account, "Higgo was on the practice putting green but was not within the area defined as the starting point at his starting time." This meant that he had to wait out his two-stroke penalty before playing his first shot.
The PGA of America's release stated clearly: "A player who arrives more than five minutes late is subject to disqualification, while those arriving no more than five minutes late are allowed to play their round but face a penalty." Higgo’s timing was slightly off; he had until 7:23 a.m. ET to be within the designated starting area and began his first shot with two strokes added to his score.
Despite this setback, Higgo managed to turn in an even-par performance by the halfway point of his round. He carded par on hole No. 1 but faced challenges such as overcooking a downhill putt at the back of the 11th green and missing the cut from a bunker shot. His double bogey one on the first hole was offset somewhat by birdies on holes three and nine.
The incident is reminiscent of another famous late arrival in golf history, when Rory McIlroy arrived just 12 minutes before his match at the 2012 Ryder Cup due to forgetting about time zone differences. However, unlike Higgo’s situation, McIlroy was able to salvage a win and help his team secure victory.
Higgo's late arrival serves as a reminder that even professionals can sometimes make mistakes in their preparation for major tournaments. Despite the early two-stroke penalty, he continued to play with determination, aiming to recover from this challenging start. The tournament is far from over, and Higgo still has opportunities to redeem himself.
The next round will be crucial for Higgo as he seeks to overcome his initial setback and compete alongside Shaun Micheel and Michael Brennan in the ongoing PGA Championship. Stay tuned for updates on how Higgo performs moving forward.
This article was produced by AVALW News on Thursday, May 14, 2026 based on reporting from 5 verified news sources across 2 countries. Our editorial process cross-references facts from multiple independent outlets to deliver accurate, comprehensive coverage. All original sources are linked below.