Yes, the PGA Tour does fine players for swearing and other "conduct unbecoming a professional," but these fines are typically not made public, though players like Tyrrell Hatton have been publicly fined for outbursts involving cursing and breaking clubs, showing the policy is enforced for visible infractions. The rules exist to maintain decorum for fans, sponsors, and television audiences, with officials monitoring for excessive profanity caught by microphones or observed directly.
golfballing In 2023, Rory McIlroy was fined $3 million for withdrawing from the RBC Heritage tournament at Hilton Head. This fine was a penalty for violating the PGA Tour's new rules regarding designated events, where players were allowed to miss only one such event per season.
Do not use foul language or swear words on the Golf Course. Do not hit into the group ahead of you. If a group behind you catches up to you, let them play through it they wish to. Do not pull your cart across the greens.
Yes, Luke Clanton made the cut at the 2025 Cognizant Classic, and doing so secured him a PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program, a major milestone he achieved by finishing strong in the second round with a 5-under 66, capping off a successful week where he needed just one more point for full Tour membership.
There IS a policy in the player's handbook about drinking. There is no drinking during practice rounds or tournament rounds. If you get caught there is a penalty. They may drink casually post round in public areas, but not during a round. Now... that hasn't stopped some golfers.
There is no stipulation that PGA Tour pros cannot smoke during tournaments, so they are free to do so if they want to.
By using a new ball every hole, tour pros can take advantage of the enhanced distance, control, and spin that a fresh ball provides. Additionally, changing the ball after a few hits maximizes the lifespan of the golf ball, as it prevents excessive wear and tear.
Clanton craved that accountability, part of why he never seriously considered turning pro out of high school (like Blades Brown or Aldrich Potgieter in recent years). Clanton wasn't ready, and didn't have any illusions that he was.
While no official "biggest drinker" list exists, John Daly is notoriously famous for his heavy drinking, even mixing vodka and lemonade on the course, with other pros mentioning widespread alcohol use during rounds, though most keep names private. Daly openly admits to drinking during rounds, sometimes consuming dozens of drinks before or during play, using his own brand, "Good Boy Vodka", from his golf cart's fridge, and has a long history of alcohol-related issues.
Rory McIlroy said there wasn't anything personal when he didn't speak with Bryson DeChambeau during the final round of the Masters Tournament, but rather he was focused on trying to win the tournament.
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in golf suggests 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts, meaning you should focus practice on high-impact areas like wedges, short game, and putting, rather than low-yield areas. It also applies to shot execution, like a "20/80" chip (20% air, 80% roll), and strategy, emphasizing that consistency in your pre-shot routine yields most of your success, helping you achieve a natural, repeatable swing.
Swearing in public isn't automatically illegal – it becomes an offence under the Public Order Act 1986, Section 5, if it's threatening or abusive and likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Rule 13.1e says that during a round and while play is stopped under temporary suspension, a player must not deliberately rub the surface of a green or roll a ball on it to test conditions.
The "70/30 rule" in golf refers to two main concepts: a course management strategy where you only take on a shot if you're confident of success 70% of the time or more (avoiding risky plays) and a practice allocation where 70% of your time is spent on the short game (chipping, putting) and 30% on the long game (driving, irons) to improve scoring. Another tactical application involves going for a par 5 in two if there's a 70-yard wide safe area to land within 30 yards of the green.
Rory McIlroy filed for divorce from Erica Stoll in May 2024, citing the marriage as "irretrievably broken," reportedly due to growing distance from his constant travel and her feeling lonely, though the exact reasons weren't detailed publicly beyond those sources; however, they reconciled a month later, canceling the divorce after realizing their future was together.
Known for his long drives and colorful personality, John Daly is another golfer who has been seen enjoying cigars. Although he usually smokes cigarettes, his love for cigars is prominent.
The most prominent autistic professional golfer in recent headlines is Australian Steven Alderson (nicknamed "Spud"), who made history in late 2024 by becoming the first person with autism to win a G4D Tour (Golf for the Disabled) event, securing a dominant victory at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters. Other notable golfers on the spectrum include PGA Tour winner Billy Mayfair, who was diagnosed later in life and uses golf as a positive outlet, and rising Canadian talent Natasha Stasiuk, who champions autism awareness through her game.
PGA club pro Tom Johnson, sober since 2013, competing in his first PGA.
Golf Channel reporter Todd Lewis joins Sarah at the Sky Cart to discuss Matt Kuchar's statement in which he vowed to pay Mayakoba caddie David Ortiz his full entitlement for their win together in Mexico.
Hovland's seven-footer knocked Kim down to 10th place out of a tie for ninth, causing him to lose just enough points to drop to No. 31 in the FedEx Cup standings. Ouch.
The golfer most famously associated with heavy drinking is John Daly, known for his "bad boy" image, inconsistent play, and public admission of alcohol issues, including claiming he'd drink a case of beer or more daily, sometimes mixing with whiskey, even while playing major tournaments. Other golfers have faced issues, but Daly is synonymous with drinking heavily on and off the course, even while winning major championships like the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 Open Championship.
The 90-degree rule in golf is a common golf cart regulation requiring players to stay on cart paths until they are even with their ball, then turn 90 degrees (a right angle) to drive straight to it, and return to the path the same way, minimizing fairway damage and preserving turf, especially after rain or during heavy play. It's a compromise between "cart path only" and free-range, helping keep courses in better condition by reducing tire tracks and soil compaction.
The Ionomer & Polymer compounds used to manufacture modern balls are very stable materials, so they remain consistent even over long periods without use. There's no definitive scientific study on this, but 10 years stored under normal conditions should see no change to performance for the modern ball.
The 7 out of 10 rule in golf is a course management strategy advising players to only attempt shots they can successfully hit at least seven times out of ten, prioritizing higher percentage plays over risky "hero shots" to avoid big scores. When in trouble, identify three options (e.g., safe, slightly forward, hero shot) and choose the one with a 70% success rate or better, often meaning playing it safe back to the fairway rather than attempting a low-percentage recovery through trees or hazards.