Despite the penalty, Higgo fought back with four birdies to finish the round at one-under 69, avoiding a more damaging outcome.

After the round, Higgo spent time in the scorer’s tent appealing and seeking evidence to support his case.

The incident highlighted a rare controversy at the event, illustrating how strict tee-time rules can affect scoring in majors.

Garrick Higgo received a two-stroke penalty for arriving late to his 7:18 a.m. first-round tee time at Aronimink, showing the strict interpretation of starting times at majors.

The penalty rendered the opening hole a double-bogey 6, but he recovered with birdies on the 3rd and 9th to reach even par on the front nine.

The report provides context on how strict starting-time rules are interpreted at major championships and commonplace warm-up practices.

He described arriving early for practice with a detailed morning routine, noting uncertainty about when the range-to-tee walk occurred.

Higgo’s world ranking sits around No. 85, and this marks his eighth major appearance since turning pro in 2019.

Higgo maintained he was on time, emphasizing the rule requires being on the tee box ready to play at the assigned time, regardless of play order.

He focused on mental resilience, intending to start Friday with a new mindset and a fresh approach after the setback.

Higgo spoke to ESPN, Sky, and radio outlets after the ruling, extending the discussion beyond the course.

At the time of reporting, Stefan Jäger led the championship early, with Bud Cauley close behind as others like Scheffler and Fitzpatrick were set to start later.