Rule infringements on the PGA Tour often happen, and more often than not, they’re unintentional.
But there has been at least one rare official occasion in professional golf where cheating has taken place and sent shockwaves through the sport.
The PGA Tour and other golfing circuits are built on honour and integrity within the traditions of the sport, making any rule breaches controversial.
Several rule infringements have often been completely accidental, with no official punishment.
Here are seven instances where players faced criticism, controversy or even admitted to breaking the rules – intentionally or otherwise…
1. Justin Doeden
In 2023, Justin Doeden admitted to cheating and changing his scorecard during a PGA Tour Canada event.
Doeden changed the double bogey seven to a par score of five after initially signing a seven and then erasing it and changing his score.
The change would have allowed him to make the cut, but his fellow players immediately reported the issue, and he later withdrew.
Doeden publicly confessed to cheating, stating it was: “the biggest mistake of my life.”
2. Patrick Reed
The 2018 Masters champion has had his fair share of controversy on the PGA Tour with a string of incidents before he defected to LIV Golf.
At the Hero World Challenge in 2019, he was hit with a two-stroke penalty for improving his lie by moving sand during a practice swing.
Other reported incidents have questioned how he marks and moves his balls and his interaction with officials.
Reed has claimed all rule infringements as unintentional and unknowing.
3. Graeme McDowell
The Northern Irishman spent 20 years on the PGA Tour, winning four events, including the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, before defecting to LIV Golf in 2022.
In August 2024, McDowell was suspended by LIV Golf for one tournament and fined $125,000 after failing a random doping test and violating the Saudi-backed circuit’s anti-doping policy.
He tested positive for an over-the-counter decongestant medicine that included the banned R-methamphetamine substance.
There was no indication of intent to gain a competitive advantage, with McDowell conceding he should have checked the Vicks Nasal decongestant he used against the banned substance list.
4. Vijay Singh
The Fijian former world number one and three-time Major champion often drew controversy on the PGA Tour.
In 2013, Vijay Singh admitted to using deer antler spray, which contained a banned substance.
The PGA Tour investigated but dropped the case after a change in World Anti-Doping Agency ruling; the Tour settled the case was supplement use and not deliberate cheating.
5. Wyndham Clark
The 2023 U.S. Open winner faced scrutiny at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational over a drop for an embedded ball where he appeared to press down glass and reportedly improve his lie.
The moments sparked online controversy with golf fans in recent years, having in-depth video footage to voice their opinion.
Clark was clear and denied any wrongdoing and has since been a big campaigner for simpler rules after the incident.
6. Mark O’Meara
The American two-time Major winner was a force on the PGA Tour in the late 1990s with 16 event wins and nearly 200 weeks in the top 10 of the world rankings.
O’Meara was questioned for incidents of mis-marking his golf ball on the green, but no penalty was ever issued, and any intent to break the rules was denied.
The matter remains a point of speculation rather than a confirmed rules violation.
7. Gary Player
The South African nine-time Major winner was a golfing sensation but by no means immune to controversy.
He regularly faced criticism over allegations of improperly marked golf balls, with Tom Watson reportedly once calling him out.
Player has denied any wrongdoing, and no official penalty was ever issued.
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