Michael Brennan’s run at the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open came to an early end after an unfortunate rules incident. The 23-year-old was disqualified for using non-permitted equipment during play.
On Thursday, January 29, Brennan started on the 10th tee of the North Course alongside Joe Highsmith and Frankie Capan III. He opened with four birdies and two bogeys to sit eight shots behind the lead after Round 1.
However, the PGA Tour rookie was disqualified from the competition after he was found using green-reading materials not allowed under Model Local Rule G-11. The rule limits players to committee-approved yardage books, committee-approved hole location sheets and a single course map no larger than standard letter or A4 size.
“Rule 4.3 and specifically Clarification 4.3a/1, puts limitations on the size and scale of detailed green-reading materials,” the official rule states as per USGA. “But to ensure that players and caddies use only their eye and feel to help them read the line of play on the putting green, the Committee may further restrict the use of green-reading materials by requiring that players are limited throughout their round to using only the yardage book that has been approved for use in the competition.”
The first breach will result in a two-stroke penalty, whilethe second breach will result in disqualification.
What’s next for Michael Brennan?
Michael Brennan is set to next compete at the WM Phoenix Open 2026. The fourth event of the season will take place from Thursday, February 5, to Sunday, February 8, at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Brennan is playing his first season as a PGA Tour pro after earning his card last year. The 23-year-old golfer won the Bank of Utah Championship in 2025 and got fully exempt through the 2027 season.
This season, Brennan has played three events so far. While he missed the cut at the Sony Open, he tied for 56th at The American Express before getting disqualified this week.
Here’s a look at Brennan’s performance so far since 2025:
2026
- Sony Open in Hawaii: CUT — +4, 144 (75-69)
- The American Express: T56 — −14, 274 (71-66-68-69)
2025
- Bank of Utah Championship: 1 — −22, 262 (67-65-64-66)
- World Wide Technology Championship: T59 — −11, 277 (69-68-70-70)
- Butterfield Bermuda Championship: T18 — −4, 280 (71-69-68-72)
- The RSM Classic: T51 — −11, 271 (70-64-68-69)
Grant Thornton Invitational: T2 — −25, 191 (55-71-65)*
