In golf’s high-stakes game, even the pros can stray. A mishap, a breach, and disqualifications show no one’s immune. In 2022, Hideki Matsuyama found himself on the wrong side of the rules at the Memorial Tournament—disqualified for a three-wood with too many markings on the face, a no-go in PGA Tour equipment regulations!

So, ever wonder how years of hard-won accomplishment may be undone by one mistake? Professional golfers have a very narrow margin for error, and the repercussions can significantly impact their careers. Five-time PGA Tour winner Ben Crane, renowned for his precise play, has encountered this bitter reality on several occasions. He was disqualified from the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in 2015 after self-reporting a rule breach. For carrying non-conforming clubs with data-collecting stickers, he was eliminated from the Albertsons Boise Open on the Web.com Tour two years later, in 2017. Let’s examine the most recent event that has brought Crane back into the public eye.

Crane’s costly error at the Corales Puntacana Championship

The Corales Puntacana Championship has delivered some unforgettable moments, like Tyler Duncan’s driver head flying off mid-round in 2023! But despite the wild scenes, there were no fines, no penalties, just unfiltered golf drama.

Now, the $4 million Corales Puntacana Championship saw Ben Crane disqualified after he committed a serious rule violation in the third round. He accidentally played his playing companion David Lipsky’s ball on the eighth hole. Crane violated Rule 6.3c(1), which stipulates that a player must fix a mistake of playing the wrong ball before making a stroke to begin the following hole, by continuing to the 9th hole undetected and making a shot.

In a tweet, PGA Tour Communications reported the disqualification stating, “Ben Crane was disqualified during the third round of the Corales Puntacana Championship for a breach of Rule 6.3c(1) that occurred on hole No. 8. Crane played a wrong ball on hole No. 8 and failed to correct the error before making a stroke to begin hole No. 9.”

Crane finished the weekend cut at four-under-par after shooting rounds of 69 and 71 at the time of the incident. However, before the accident on the eighth hole, he had dropped to one over par after making bogeys on holes three and six and then birdieing on seventeen. Crane proceeded to record par on holes nine and 10 before his final action of the competition was a third bogey of his round on the eleventh hole.

His participation in the event was terminated, and the disqualification further marred his professional record. Crane, who was once well-known for his slow play, has also made headlines in the past. Let’s see one such instance when Crane got the spotlight.

A pattern of self-reported violations by Ben Crane

This is not the first time Crane has been disqualified for breaking the rules. In 2017, Ben Crane found himself benched at the Albertsons Boise Open after an honest mistake, carrying clubs with swing-data stickers that didn’t meet the rules. Realizing the slip, Crane reported it himself, but because he hadn’t declared the clubs out of play, he was disqualified under Rule 4-1. A tough break, but a true display of sportsmanship.

Then, when he discovered that he had touched a stone in a hazard on the 18th hole during his opening round at the 2015 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, he self-reported a violation of Rule 13-4. His admission resulted in his disqualification, even though he finished his second round and finished the event four under par.

Crane’s willingness to disclose his transgressions despite harsh consequences demonstrates his dedication to integrity. Even if these behaviours preserve the essence of the game, a player’s reputation and career path may suffer from repeated infractions. Ben Crane’s career, characterised by noteworthy triumphs and admirable sportsmanship, also serves as a warning about the realities of professional golf. Even small mistakes can have significant repercussions in a sport where accuracy and adherence to the rules are crucial.