Better late than never, Higgo fires 69 after PGA penalty

South African Garrick Higgo walks alongside caddie Austin Gaugert after being issued a two-stroke penalty for missing his tee time in the first round at Aronimink at the PGA Championship (Michael Reaves)

(Michael Reaves/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP)

South Africa's Garrick Higgo took a two-stroke penalty for being seconds late for his Thursday tee time at the PGA Championship, then fired a one-under par 69 to stay in contention.

Higgo arrived from an adjacent practice putting green at Aronimink for his 7:18 a.m. (1118 GMT) tee time only to be told he was late and was being penalized.

That turned his par at the first hole into a double bogey, but he followed with four birdies and a bogey to stay in contention.

"I'm super proud," Higgo said. "A lot of guys would have shot a lot after what I went through.

"I think it shows a lot of mental strength the way I kept fighting."

The 27-year-old from Johannesburg argued his case in the scoring tent after the round to no avail.

"The rule is if you're one second late, you're late," Higgo said. "It's unfortunate. I usually cut it fine. This morning I was trying to stay warm."

Without the penalty, he would have shared the early clubhouse lead on 67.

"I would have loved to be three-under but I'm one-under," Higgo said. "Hopefully I can make a good story out of it."

Higgo was without his cell phone or watch on the practice green as he ran over with putter in hand.

"I wouldn't have been late if I knew I was running late," Higgo said.

"I am very casual and laid back. I don't want to be there 10 minutes early. Five minutes is fine. I thought I had time. I was obviously too casual, yeah."

Higgo made a 27-foot birdie putt at the par-three 14th hole and a 33-foot birdie putt at the third to highlight his round.

"This is the first time it's happened. I wasn't sure quite what. I was just happy they allowed me to tee off, firstly. I was bummed when he said I had a two-shot penalty," Higgo said.