Read more: Robert MacIntyre wins thrilling Scottish Open

In a surprising turn of events, another rare golf penalty was assessed at a European Tour event. For the second week in a row, a player received a two-shot penalty for showing up late to their tee time.

This time, it was Canadian Mackenzie Hughes who fell victim to the unusual punishment at the Genesis Scottish Open. Hughes had positioned himself well through the first two rounds, carding back-to-back 66s to enter moving day at -8 and in contention.

However, disaster struck when Hughes failed to arrive at his scheduled 2:45 p.m. tee time on Saturday. In golf, players who miss their tee time without authorization are subject to disqualification from the tournament.

While Hughes avoided being kicked out of the event, he was still penalized two shots under Rule 5.3A for being late. This turned an opening par on the 1st hole into a costly double bogey.

It's a harsh penalty, but one that is clearly outlined in the rules. Players are expected to be ready to play when their tee time arrives. Hughes was within the 5-minute grace period to avoid disqualification, but still paid the price with strokes.

Ironically, the same rare penalty befell LIV Golfer Scott Vincent just last week at the International Series Morocco event. He showed up late after trying to retrieve lost bags from the airport.

The two-shot setback put Hughes back in the field, but he faces an uphill battle to contend on the weekend. He was able to rally with a pair of birdies, but the competition is fierce at The Renaissance Club. Only time will tell if Hughes can overcome his untimely penalty and pressure from the chasing pack. For now, it serves as another reminder of the importance of tee time punctuality on tour.

Rule 5.3A for being late to your tee time

If a player arrives at the starting point, ready to play, no more than 5 minutes late, the general penalty of 2 strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play is applied to the first hole .

If a player starts no more than 5 minutes early, they also receive the general penalty on the first hole .

If a player arrives more than 5 minutes late, they are disqualified, with no exceptions .

The only exception is if the committee decides there were "exceptional circumstances" that prevented the player from starting on time, such as providing medical assistance or evacuating a hotel. In this case, there is no breach of the rule and no penalty .

In some junior/amateur events, if a player arrives more than 5 minutes late, they may be allowed to join their group but receive a penalty of a triple bogey on the missed hole(s) .

References: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/mackenzie-hughes-scottish-open-2024