Tyler McCumber Takes Two-Stroke Penalty Over Marker Mix-Up

Tyler McCumber, a former PGA Tour player now competing on the PGA Tour of Australasia, was docked two strokes during round three of the WA PGA Championship on Saturday over an uncertain ball-marker replacement.

What happened on the second green?

Playing alongside Todd Sinnott, McCumber marked his ball on the second green and moved the marker one putter-head length to the side so Sinnott could putt without interference. Tournament director Heath McLeod said McCumber came off the course unsure whether he had moved the marker back to its original spot before playing his own putt. Officials reviewed video of the moment, but McLeod said the footage was inconclusive. "Tyler in himself was unsure and didn't feel right," McLeod said, and McCumber chose to take the two-stroke penalty for playing from the wrong place rather than leave it unresolved. An inconclusive replay turned an honor-system call into a two-stroke penalty.

An inconclusive replay turned an honor-system call into a two-stroke penalty.

How did the penalty affect his result?

McCumber had opened the week with rounds of 70 and 69 to sit in a share of second place. The penalty helped push his third-round score to a four-over 76, and he followed with a two-over 74 in the final round to finish tied for 26th. Justin Warren won the tournament at 11 under, with the purse set at $250,000.

Has McCumber faced a rules issue before?

Yes. At the 2024 Victorian PGA Championship, McCumber was also docked two strokes, while his playing partner Anthony Quayle was penalized seven shots for repeatedly misapplying preferred lies that were not actually in effect. McCumber finished second in that event to Cory Crawford by a single stroke, with Quayle finishing solo third.