DP World Tour upholds Frank Kennedy DQ at Qualifying School Final Stage
Rory McIlroy describes incident as ‘unbelievably unfortunate’ but welcomes ‘crack down by authorities’
The DP World Tour has upheld a decision to disqualify Englishman Frank Kennedy for “serious misconduct after causing deliberate damage to the course” during the circuit’s Qualifying School Final Stage in Spain.
The 21-year-old was in a card-winning position after 72 holes in the six-round marathon at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona when he was turfed out of the event under Rule 1.2a of the Rules of Golf.
In a post on social media, Kennedy explained his version of events, claiming that the damage he caused to a green was unintentional, and revealed he had requested a review of the decision.
In a statement issued by the DP World Tour on Tuesday morning, though, it was confirmed that the decision had been upheld.
It read: “Following a request from Frank Kennedy and his team to review the evidence and the decision to disqualify him from the DP World Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, a review has been completed.
“The ruling to disqualify him under Rule 1.2a of the Rules of Golf – made by the Qualifying School Rules Committee for serious misconduct for damaging the 11th green during the fourth round - stands.”
It is believed that the committee made the decision after interviewing Kennedy again while also reviewing photographic evidence.
As well as reviewing the timeline of events, it is also understood that the committee statements from players present at the incident and conducted some additional interviews with the same players.
Kennedy allegedly took a one-foot divot out of the 11th green on the Hills Course but claimed that he “did not intentionally or deliberately damage the putting surface, and any comments saying otherwise are wholly incorrect”.
Rory McIlroy was asked about the incident in his pre-DP World Tour Championship press conference at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai on Tuesday morning.
“I was talking to Harry [Diamond, McIlroy’s caddie] about it out on the course,” said the back-to-back Masters champion. “It seems harsh but, at the same time, I think it's good that golf and the authorities are cracking down on things like this. It's an unbelievably unfortunate incident.”
After carding a sensational 61 in the fourth round, Scot Ryan Lumsden headed into the penultimate circuit sitting joint-fourth on 22 under, two shots off the lead, held by Italian Matteo Cristoni.
In the battle to finish in the top 15 and ties, Cameron Adam started the fifth circuit sitting joint-21st, with Graeme Robertson and Aidan O’Hagan, the two other Scots in the field, missing the 72-hole cut.
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