Joel Dahmen Penalized Four Strokes at Shriners Open

PGA Tour golfer Joel Dahmen faced a four-stroke penalty during the first round of the Shriners Children's Open after discovering he had an extra 4-iron in his bag, bringing his score from one-over 72 to 76. This incident is particularly detrimental for Dahmen, who is currently ranked 124th in the FedEx Cup standings, as he fights to secure his Tour card for the next season. The penalty is in accordance with USGA Rule 4.1b, which states players can carry a maximum of 14 clubs, resulting in a two-stroke penalty for each hole played with the violation, capped at four strokes. Dahmen expressed his frustration, noting that such an error had never happened to him before, and he defended his caddie amidst online criticism from fans. Following the penalty, Dahmen's chances of making the cut for the tournament have significantly diminished. The first round was also suspended due to darkness and will resume the next day.