America’s Jason Millard will not be participating in this year’s US Open at Pinehurst after being disqualified following calling a penalty on himself.
25 year old Jason Millard has been disqualified from taking part in the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst after having called a penalty on himself.
Millard was playing his third shot on the 18th hole of Colonial Country Club’s North Course when the penalty took place on June 2.
The American born golfer believed that he had grounded his club in a bunker. Millard explained: “I don’t know 100% but deep down I believe I did. For five days I practiced and I couldn’t get it off my mind. It’s the right decision.
“It’s heart breaking but what I was feeling in my heart didn’t feel right. It’s the right decision and I am sticking with it,” Millard continued.
The USGA vice president and chairman of the championship committee, said: “we commend Jason for bringing this matter to our attention. At this time we have no recourse but to disqualify him under the Rules of Golf and specifically Rule 34-1b.”
Rule 34-1b dictates that a competitor must be disqualified after the competition has closed if he or she has returned a score that failed to include a penalty, which he or she knowingly incurred.
Jason Millard has been replaced by amateur Sam Love who was the second alternate from the same qualifying site as Millard in Memphis.
Millard will be backing Love in the competition, saying: “I’m happy for him and I hope he goes and wins the tournament. It would be a great story."
Love will tee off in the final group on Thursday June 12 at 2.42pm.
In other US Open news, Curtis Strange, who is the last player to mean successive US Opens, has said that he is hopeful for Justin Rose to win this year at Pinehurst.
Strange said: “If Justin would happen to do it this year, that would be the first phone call. That would be fantastic.
"So do I want to see somebody do it? Not particularly. But I'm not rooting against somebody. Justin will hear from me, like it or not - not that he really cares. If he wins back to back, he doesn't care if I call or not."
The US Open tournament will commence on Thursday 12 June.
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