Joel Dahmen receives huge PGA Tour penalty after blatantly breaking rule

Joel Dahmen was hit with a four-stroke penalty in the opening round of the Shriners Children's Open after it was discovered that he had 15 clubs in his bag.

The rules state that a player can only have a maximum of 14 clubs at once. Dahmen originally started the TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas with solid play, making par on the first two holes of the competition. But after it was discovered that he had 15 clubs in his bag, both of those pars were changed to double bogeys due to the four-stroke penalty.

Dahmen steadied himself with pars on holes 3 and 4, but he struggled to regain momentum, bogeying three more times during his round. The PGA Tour star managed to birdie on holes 7 and 13, but the early penalties weighed heavily on his scorecard.

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By the end of the day, Dahmen finished five over par, landing in last place [132nd], just one stroke behind Callum Tarren. The costly infraction put Dahmen in a difficult position for the rest of the tournament, featuring a $7 million purse.

According to the rules of golf , carrying more than 14 clubs results in a two-stroke penalty for each hole where the infraction occurred, up to a maximum of four strokes. Some fans believe the punishment is too harsh on the player and should affect a golfer's caddy instead. Fans had mixed reactions to the penalty on X. One said: "That’s on the caddy. His best friend" - highlighting the caddy's responsibility to ensure everything in the bag is in order.

Another fan added: "Count your clubs, bro. Do not trust others. But four strokes seems a bit harsh" - reflecting the overall sentiment that while Dahmen should be accountable, the penalty felt excessive.

A former professional caddie weighed in on the situation, saying: "As an ex-caddy, I’d definitely be taking the blame for this one. Always count them on the putting green or when you’re wiping down the grips on the range."

Rounds two through four of the Shriners Children's Open are scheduled to take place daily until the final round on October 20. Canadian golfer Taylor Pendrith leads the field after an impressive opening round, finishing 10 under par.

There is a nine-way tie for second place, with each golfer posting a score of 64. The group includes substantial players like Rico Hoey, Bud Cauley, and Ben Silverman, all of who are just three strokes behind Pendrith as they look to contend for the title in the upcoming rounds.