Brian Harman Penalized for Playing Wrong Ball at The American Express | Rare PGA Tour Blunder
Even major champions make mistakes — and Brian Harman found that out the hard way. 😮💨⛳
During the opening round of The American Express, the former Open Champion was hit with a two-shot penalty after accidentally playing the wrong ball — a rare and costly error at the PGA Tour level.
The incident happened on the 10th hole of the Stadium Course at La Quinta, where Harman hit what looked like a brilliant approach to inside 10 feet for birdie. Moments later, he realized the ball he had struck wasn’t his — and it didn’t belong to playing partner Max Homa either.
Instead, Harman had unknowingly played the ball of an amateur, with the tournament running a Pro-Am format during the opening rounds. The mistake resulted in a two-stroke penalty under Rule 6.3c(1), flipping a birdie opportunity into a double bogey.
Golf Channel analyst Smylie Kaufman explained how the Pro-Am setup can create confusion, as players typically only compare balls with fellow pros — not amateurs teeing off from different positions.
In this video, we break down:
✅ What exactly happened to Brian Harman
✅ Why the wrong-ball rule led to a two-shot penalty
✅ How rare this mistake is on the PGA Tour
✅ Why the Pro-Am format played a role
✅ What the rules actually say
💬 Comment below: Should pros be required to check balls with amateurs in Pro-Am events?
👍 Like if you’ve ever almost played the wrong ball
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