PGA Championship golfer hit with rare two-stroke penalty after showing up late to tee time

Aronimink Golf Club, home of this year's PGA Championship, is designed to put the world's best golfers to the test. Conquering it becomes even more difficult when you start at a disadvantage.

Garrick Higgo was forced to start with a rare two-stroke penalty ahead of Thursday's first round, dealing the South African hopeful a blow before only his second major start in the last four years.

Higgo responded well with an otherwise bogey-free front nine that included a pair of birdies, but he sat at even par through nine holes rather than 2-under.

Here's what you need to know about Higgo's rare penalty at the start of the PGA Championship.

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Why did Garrick Higgo receive two-stroke penalty?

Higgo was assessed a two-stroke penalty for being late to his tee time. Higgo was scheduled to tee off at 7:18 a.m. ET but reported to the tee at 7:19 a.m.

As Higgo walked up to the tee, an official informed him that he was late and would receive the penalty. Higgo appeared to be on the same page as the official, as he didn't appear to be surprised by the penalty.

Garrick Higgo was assessed a two-stroke penalty for arriving one minute late to his tee time. pic.twitter.com/zp9yrVTBb9

Higgo was nearby in the practice putting green at 7:18 a.m., according to PGA of America, but the putting green is not considered part of the starting point area where players are required to be at their scheduled tee time.

Higgo put together an otherwise unblemished front nine, birdying on holes No. 3 and No. 9, but the double bogey at No. 1 resulting from the penalty left him at even par. He jumped above par with a bogey at No. 10, but the solid start allowed him to stay within striking distance of the top of the leaderboard as the day got underway.

The 27-year-old has never finished higher than 47th in a major, and last year's PGA Championship is his only other major start over the last four years.

MORE: Revisiting last major championship at Aronimink

PGA Tour rules for tee times

PGA of America's rules require players to be near the "rope, gallery stakes, green bike fencing and/or blue stakes, blue dots or blue lines" at their scheduled tee time. That did not include the putting green at Aronimink. 

The rules also state that a player is subject to disqualification if he is more than five minutes late to his tee time. Higgo was allowed to stay in the PGA Championship at just one minute late, but it's possible the two-stroke penalty turns out to be the difference between making and missing the cut.