Got backed up in a tournament today and was watching them and the dude in the group tee'd off from the wrong tee box (wasn't even close to the real tee box).

We all did notice it until it was too late...would he have been DQ'd as soon as he hit it? Or as soon as he hit his next shot? Or how does it work? I forgot to ask when I finished up what happened.

Once he hits it from the wrong tee box, he's DQ'd.

Not 100% but I don't think so. He would have to re-tee from the correct tees and take a 2 stroke penalty. However if he finished the hole playing from the wrong box and posted that score he would be DQ'd if/when someone called him on it.

not true:

11-4. Playing from Outside Teeing Ground

a. Match Play
If a player, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing ground, there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke and play a ball from within the teeing ground.

b. Stroke Play
If a competitor, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing ground, he incurs a penalty of two strokes and must then play a ball from within the teeing ground.

If the competitor makes a stroke from the next teeing ground without first correcting his mistake or, in the case of the last hole of the round, leaves the putting green without first declaring his intention to correct his mistake, he is disqualified.

The stroke from outside the teeing ground and any subsequent strokes by the competitor on the hole prior to his correction of the mistake do not count in his score.

11-5. Playing from Wrong Teeing Ground

The provisions of Rule 11-4 apply.

thanks guys! I figured as much that he was 86'd