Golf
LIV Golf star almost disqualified from event after breaking obvious rule
Scott Vincent narrowly avoided being disqualified from the International Series Morocco after he missed his 12:30 pm tee time but was saved by a little-known rule
LIV Golf star Scott Vincent was almost disqualified from the International Series Morocco after he broke one of golf’s most fundamental rules – not showing up for your tee time.
Vincent, who has earned £6 million ($7.7 million) since leaving the PGA Tour for the Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway league, was playing alongside fellow LIV star Eugenio Chacarra. However, his preparation was thrown into chaos when he discovered his luggage – including his clubs – had been lost by an airline en route to Morocco.
In an attempt to recover them, he returned to the airport. But after failing to find the golf clubs, he missed his 12.30 pm tee time on Thursday – putting him in a sticky situation with Asian Tour tournament officials.
READ MORE: LIV Golf in signal of intent to PGA Tour as Phil Mickelson prediction comes good
READ MORE: LIV Golf star has $11.5 million justification for brutally honest money admission
However, there are three exceptions to this rule, one of which is if the player arrives at the course within five minutes of their original tee time. Astonishingly, Vincent made it with just 30 seconds to spare, avoiding complete expulsion.
He did receive a two-stroke penalty for missing the initial tee time – apparently due to taking a wrong turn on his way back to the course. Vincent was forced to play with borrowed clubs, having quickly assembled a bag of clubs borrowed from the club pro.
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.
Afterwards, Vincent found humor in the incident, stating: “Lucky enough, we have some really cool people out here on the Asian Tour – it is a friendly tour. A lot of people had clubs, bits and pieces, but obviously it is hard to make up a full set when you do not have anything, so we have a bit of a mixed bag here.
“I have talked a lot to myself about adapting, no matter what, whatever the situation might be. And so just being able to go out there with none of my stuff, even golf shoes, I am taking in the moment, and we will just take it as it comes.”
Incredibly, Vincent managed to shoot a five-under 68 in his first round, finishing just two shots behind the lead. He received more good news after he finished, as his clubs finally arrived – though his brother, Kieran, who was playing alongside him with borrowed clubs, wasn’t as lucky. His clubs are still missing going into the second round.