Garrick Higgo's 7:18 a.m. Disaster: Two-Stroke Penalty Before He Even Hit His Opening Shot

South African golfer Garrick Higgo showed up late to the party at the PGA Championship on Thursday, and the PGA Tour made sure he paid the price. The 27-year-old was slapped with a two-stroke penalty for arriving late to his first-round tee time at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. That's not a gentle tap on the wrist, that's a brutal way to start a major championship.

The 7:18 a.m. That Changed Everything

Higgo was scheduled to tee off at 7:18 a.m. alongside Michael Brennan and Shaun Micheel. But he didn't make it on time, and when you're late at a major, the rules committee doesn't care what your excuse is. The two-stroke penalty hit hard right out of the gate. Thanks to that penalty, Higgo wound up with a double bogey on the par-4 opening hole before he'd barely gotten warmed up. That's a brutal hole to dig yourself out of early in a major.

Still Fighting to Stay Relevant

Here's the thing: Higgo is currently ranked No. 85 in the world and is a two-time PGA Tour winner. He's no stranger to big moments, but he's also never finished in the top 40 at any major championship. This is his fourth appearance at the PGA Championship, and he came in hoping to finally break through at the highest level. The late arrival and the penalty made that hill even steeper to climb.

After the brutal start with the double bogey, Higgo managed to salvage some momentum. He birdied Nos. 3 and 9 to make the turn at even par. So he clawed his way back to the clubhouse even after that disaster of an opening hole. It's a start, but you have to wonder what his scorecard would've looked like if he'd just gotten there on time.

Higgo tees off again on Friday as he tries to make his mark at a major. That two-stroke penalty is going to linger all week, a constant reminder that sometimes the hardest battles in golf happen before you even grab your driver.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.