News
Bad Ball Costs Hayes His Tour Card
J.P. Hayes called foul on himself, and lost his full time job in the process. During first round play at the PGA Tour qualifying school his caddie flipped him a new ball on the par 3 12th hole. After missing the green, chipping onto the green, and marking his ball Mr. Hayes realized this was not the same model Titleist he’d started the round with that day.
J.P. Hayes called foul on himself, and lost his full time job in the process. During first round play at the PGA Tour qualifying school his caddie flipped him a new ball on the par 3 12th hole.
After missing the green, chipping onto the green, and marking his ball Mr. Hayes realized this was not the same model Titleist he’d started the round with that day. He called over an official and took a two shot penalty. The round ended with him shooting a 74, the next day he shot a 71 leaving himself with a good chance of reaching the final round of Q school and an opportunity to regain his playing privileges for 2009.
Back in the hotel that evening Mr. Hayes noticed that the ball he had used on the 12th hole of day one was a prototype Titleist not on the conforming ball list as approved for tournament play. Gulp. Swear. Smack forehead. Repeat Roberto deVicenzo’s famous "What a stupid I am". Call tour officials and hang self out to dry. "I pretty much knew at that point I was done." Which sums it up nicely.
What one does when no one is watching, when the opportunity to either do the right thing (or avoid doing the right thing) presents itself, is the truest test of character. Mr. Hayes stood up and did the right thing, something seldom seen in the world of professional sports, outside golf anyway. In fact it’s seldom seen in the world. Whether because it doesn’t happen much or because in the real non insular world nobody comments on the good things folks do regularly. I could be jaded as well. No, I am jaded as well, but that tangent is not one to follow at this time.
Mr. Hayes wants, nor will he get, any sympathy for his predicament. After all he did finish 178th on the money list this year, thus earning the trip to Q school in the first place. He’s won over $7 million in his career so losing a guaranteed spot on the PGA tour and having to play mostly Nationwide Tour events is not a hardship compared to me losing my job. Still, I find the honesty refreshing. "We don’t have refs on the course, so we have to call penalties on ourselves. I’ve done it before, dozens of guys have," Hayes said. "Just about everybody out there does, but usually we move on and nobody hears about it." Ah but we do hear about it. Can you see a defensive back in pro football calling interference on himself? Didn’t think so.
Mr. Hayes still figures to get a dozen or so starts on the PGA Tour next year so if he plays well he won’t be destitute. But still, the idea of opening the closed door and letting the truth out is a rare enough occurrence that applause seems necessary.
I salute J.P. Hayes. An honest man.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Juansky
Nov 24, 2008 at 11:51 am
It’s all about doing the right thing and not doing your own thing. Bless his heart, J.P. is a man with character.
Ben
Nov 23, 2008 at 1:33 am
I just hope that this serves as a positive example to all those who play the game. It sucks when you’re stuck playing with people who would opt to cheat just to say the shot a lower score than you. It’s great to see the people that we look up too and that play the at the pinnacle of the game also adhere to the highest of standards to set the example and lead the way.
Thanks!
Adam
Nov 22, 2008 at 12:54 pm
What a class move by J.P. He has his local support here in El Paso no matter what. Even though this is not a high point, it just goes to show what kind of game we all play and how great golf truly is. I know he will bounce back and get his card.
Mark
Nov 22, 2008 at 12:36 pm
This is one of the reason I love golf, the character of the game. Given all the garbage outside of golf, it is fitting for me to be involved in sport with so much integrity.
Ian Tessier
Nov 22, 2008 at 10:05 am
Wow, quite a story.
Is his caddy still employed? I would think he would check every aspect of his players bag prior to every round.
Congratulations to J.P. and thanks for making it cool to be honest.