PGA Tour Pro Disqualified In Bizarre Rules Incident At World Wide Technology Championship

Emilio Gonzalez had been looking to make the weekend at the World Wide Technology Championship, but was disqualified following a bizarre rules incident!

Emilio Gonzalez hits a wedge shot from the fairway
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Matt Cradock
By
published

After firing a one-over-par 73 on Thursday, Emilio Gonzalez would need a low round on Friday to make the cut at the World Wide Technology Championship.

Carding a one-under 71, the Mexican failed to make the weekend and, a few hours later, it turned out Gonzalez was disqualified following a rules infringement at the par-4 15th!

Signing his scorecard, the 27-year-old spoke to media and was likely on his way back to the hotel before rules officials revealed that he would be disqualified due to a rules "breach of Rule 18.3 (Provisional Ball).”

Being played at the Tiger Woods designed El Cardonal at Diamante, Gonzalez reportedly struck his tee shot on the 15th into the desert area and, a few seconds later, played a provisional.

Now, this is where the rule infringement occurs as, after a brief search was conducted to find the first tee shot, a golf ball was found in the three-minute limit, but officials claimed that Gonzalez failed to make a “reasonable effort” to identify the ball once it was found. In the end, he continued to play the provisional, making a bogey five.

Emilio Gonzalez watches his wedge shot from distance

Gonzalez during his second round at the World Wide Technology Championship

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Under Rule 18.3 - 'Playing Provisional Ball After Search Has Started Is Allowed' - "A player may play a provisional ball for a ball that might be lost up until the point when the three-minute search time has ended.

"For example, if a player is able to return to the spot of their previous stroke and play a provisional ball before the three-minute search time has ended, the player is allowed to do so. If the player plays the provisional ball and the original ball is then found within the three-minute search time, the player must continue play with the original ball."

To not be penalized and disqualified, Gonzalez needed to clearly determine whether the found ball was his or not.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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