Update: Michael Brennan released a statement, explaining that he unknowingly used notes from green maps provided by a new course data analyst he started working with at the start of the week, and he self-reported the violation.
“Just wanted to clear the air on what happened at the Farmers Insurance Open this week. I started working with a new course data analyst at the beginning of the week in an effort to improve my course strategy. The evening before each round, he sends the hole locations on green maps to help plan approach shots. While looking at the green maps, I sketched a few arrows to help with my plan on approach shots.
“After completion of my round, I asked him for clarification of a feature on the green maps. During the clarification, he mentioned that I was not able to transcribe any details on the greens from his diagram into my yardage book. Upon learning this, I reached out to a pga tour rules official, reporting my mistake, and was subsequently disqualified from the golf tournament.
“While this has been a painful lesson to learn, I am looking forward to the party in the desert next week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.”
Michael Brennan was disqualified from the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday following his first round for using non-permitted green-reading materials.
The PGA Tour announced the DQ on Thursday evening after Brennan had opened with a 2-under 70 on the North Course and sat T-55 on the leaderboard.
The specific violation is of Model Local Rule G-11, which, according to the PGA Tour hard card for 2026, restricts the use of green-reading materials to only committee approved yardage books and hole location sheets, and a map of the entire course no larger than letter or A4 sized paper.
The USGA provides further explanation on the MLR:
Handwritten notes may be added to an approved yardage book or approved hole-location sheet before or during the round by the player or the player’s caddie only and are limited to information gathered by the player or caddie only.
Handwritten notes may contain information gained only through personal experiences of the player or the player’s caddie from the course or by watching a televised broadcast, but are limited to information gained: While observing a ball that was rolled or played (whether by the player, caddie or someone else), or through the player’s or caddie’s feel or general observations of the putting green.
Also, per the USGA, the first breach of MLR G-11 is a two-shot penalty. The second breach results in disqualification.
Brennan, 23, picked up his first PGA Tour victory at last fall’s Bank of Utah Championship, where he was competing on a sponsor exemption having already won the PGA Tour Americas points list last season.
The Farmers was his third start of this season after he missed the Sony Open cut and then tied for 56th at The American Express.