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Frank Kennedy, a 21-year-old English tour-pro golfer raised in Jupiter, Florida, was disqualified from the final stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School in Spain after damaging the 11th green on the Hills course at the Infinitum resort. His father, Simon Kennedy, spoke out to defend his son, acknowledging the mistake while maintaining that the damage was completely accidental.
The Incident on the 11th Green
The incident took place during the fourth round of the grueling six-round finale that narrows 156 players down to 15 tour card-earners. Frank Kennedy arrived at the par-5 11th hole at 12 under par. After missing a birdie putt and tapping in, he drew back his putter like a polo stick to swing through the air while blowing off steam. According to Simon, his son misjudged the club’s arc on the wet surface, causing the putter head to skid and create a graze on the green rather than a deep trench.
Realizing what happened, Frank checked the surface and attempted to repair the damage himself before continuing his round. He finished the day with a three-under 69 to reach 15 under for the tournament. Following the round, tournament officials summoned Frank and his playing partners, Santiago Tarrio and Ren Yoweza, before disqualifying Frank for a Code of Conduct violation under Rule 1.2 for serious misconduct.
Appeals and Official Rulings
Frank initially appealed the decision on Monday night through his manager, Martin Williams. Following a Tuesday morning meeting requested by the DP World Tour, the tournament committee re-reviewed photographic evidence, the timeline, and player statements, ultimately deciding that the disqualification would stand.
The rule governing the disqualification focuses on player conduct and course care, allowing a committee to disqualify a player for serious misconduct if actions are contrary to the spirit of the game. The rule does not take intent into account, meaning the lack of deliberation on Frank’s part did not alter the ruling. In an official statement, the DP World Tour confirmed that the review was completed and the penalty stands.
Father’s Reaction and the Aftermath
Simon Kennedy emphasized in a 45-minute interview that his son does not condone his own foolish and careless actions and accepts that a moral punishment was warranted. However, Simon stressed that the public narrative exaggerating the size of the damage and questioning his son’s character was unfair. Simon noted that Frank was shocked by the incident and is currently experiencing the harsh reality of viral media commentary.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy weighed in on the situation during the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, noting that while the penalty seemed harsh, strict enforcement by authorities is positive for the sport. McIlroy added that high-level golf requires experience to handle emotional highs and lows.
Frank plans to accept the ruling, learn from the experience, and fly home to Florida, with decisions regarding his 2027 playing schedule to be determined later.
