Mexican professional golfer Emilio Gonzalez has been disqualified from the PGA Tour's Worldwide Technology Championship for a violation of “gross misconduct.”
Gonzalez was playing in the second round of his country's biggest tournament when he hit his tee shot into the desert area of the golf course on the 15th hole.
The 27-year-old continued with a tentative second shot off the tee after his first shot failed. But while looking for that second ball, Gonzalez appeared to find one in the rough.
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Emilio Gonzalez of Mexico lines up his putt on the first hole during the first round of the Worldwide Technology Championship 2024 at El Cardonal in Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on November 7, 2024. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
However, tournament officials determined that he “failed to make a reasonable effort to identify the ball” because he believed it was his first tee shot.
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The PGA Tour rules state: “If a provisional ball is not the ball in play and a ball is found that may be the original ball, the player must make every reasonable effort to identify the ball.'' It is stipulated that “No.”
“If a player fails to do so, the Committee may disqualify the player under Rule 1.2a if the Committee considers it to be gross misconduct against the spirit of the game.”
Emilio Gonzalez of Mexico hits a shot from the second tee during the second round of the Worldwide Technology Championship 2024 at El Cardonal in Diamante on November 8, 2024 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
After deliberation, Gonzalez was found to have violated the rules and was expelled from the tournament in his home country.
Although this is a big blow for Gonzalez, his income will not be reduced and he will be allowed to participate in next month's PGA Tour Q School.
Emilio Gonzalez of Mexico stands on the 18th hole of the second round of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance at French Lick Golf Resort on October 4, 2024 in French Lick, Indiana. (Jennifer Perez/PGA Tour)
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Gonzalez, like many golfers in the field next month, is hoping to finish in the top five at Q School to earn promotion to the PGA Tour.
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