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The PGA Championship has introduced a new code of conduct aimed at regulating player behavior, emphasizing professionalism and decorum. Fourteen specific examples of unacceptable behavior are outlined for players to follow during the tournament.
Robert MacIntyre was reportedly reprimanded after the Masters for behavior that was a breach of Augusta National's code of conduct.Getty Images
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. â A new set of rules are set to provide some structure to the best golfers in the world. Not the kind of rules that govern penalty drops and relief, but rather rules of decorum. How pros behave.
As was teased out Wednesday by Kerry Haigh, the PGA of Americaâs chief competitions officer, a new âcode of conductâ is in place at this weekâs PGA Championship that is the result of recent collaboration between the four major championships and the main tours. The policy, as Haigh put it, ensures that âeveryone is behaving appropriately, professionally, and as we would want our children and people watching to see the major championship.â
Fourteen examples of âunacceptable behaviorâ are posted in the Aronimink locker room, outlining breaches of the code, including obvious no-noâs like damaging property and less obvious ones like failing to be honest and even wearing a hat backward. Hereâs the full list:
The behavioral examples posted in this weekâs locker room outlining the player Code of Conduct. Sean Zak
This comes a month after Sergio Garcia received the first such warning on Masters Sunday, after damaging turf on an Augusta National tee box and breaking his driver shaft over the leg of a bench. Garcia apologized, but he wasnât the only golfer gone wild that week.
Robert MacIntyre was similarly reprimanded at the Masters after he was caught raising his middle finger at the 15th green after missing a shot short into the water hazard. MacIntyre didnât seem too bothered, considering he missed the cut and then posted to Instagram an AI-generated photo of himself as a bird-flipping Masters gnome.
The new rules include a code of conduct that outlines fourteen examples of unacceptable behavior, such as damaging property and failing to be honest.
The code was introduced to ensure that players behave appropriately and professionally, reflecting the standards expected by the PGA of America and its audience.
Unacceptable behaviors include damaging property, dishonesty, and even wearing a hat backward, among others.
The enforcement of the new behavior rules is overseen by the PGA of America's chief competitions officer, Kerry Haigh, along with tournament officials.
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Last summer, at the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy smashed a tee box marker, which would draw a quick warning today. A few days later, at the same event, Wyndham Clark damaged a locker in Oakmontâs locker room, an episode to which he had to answer in the following months. That all took place after Clark threw his driver at last yearâs PGA Championship, hitting a sign and snapping the shaft.
Of course, there is no meaning to a code of conduct without consequences. This weekâs locker-room posting added plenty of relevant context to how the code will be upheld by the PGA of America. Each major (and tour) is expected to maintain similar codes in general, but may implement and communicate them slightly differently. Aspects like frequency of breach, player intent and severity will determine how a governing body â in this case the PGA of America â will rule.
Implementation of the PGA Championshipâs âCode of conduct.â Sean Zak
Upon first breach, a warning will be issued, though if the âseverity of misconductâ is excessive, it could immediately bypass a warning. Upon second breach of the code, the infracting player would receive a two-shot penalty, and a third breach would result in a player being disqualified. Players are similarly held responsible for the actions of their caddies. The information of such a breach is not likely to be spelled out with great clarity, however. At least not this week.
PGA of America officials confirmed that, in the event of a warning, no official alert would be made. Obviously, in the event of a second breach, those added two strokes would need to be explained. Garciaâs warning at Augusta National was issued by Jeff Yang, the Mastersâ chairman of competitions committee, and later confirmed by the club.
The PGA Tour has been developing a conduct policy and its collaboration with the various majors led to implementations at the Masters and PGA of America events. The Tour itself has not yet ratified a policy as it still needs to go through the Tourâs governance process for approval. Same goes for the DP World Tour. How that all looks in reality remains to be seen, but the PGA of America first used this code at its Senior PGA Championship last month.
The post Inside the new rules policing player behavior at PGA Championship appeared first on Golf.