If the No. 1 rule in sports is “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying,” someone didn’t tell it to golfer J.P. Hayes.
Facing the prospect of losing his PGA Tour card after finishing 177th in money earnings this year, Hayes went to Q-School to play himself back in.
He nearly made it to the final round after shooting a 71. But when he got back to his hotel room, Hayes realized he’d used a ball not approved by the PGA. He turned himself in to Tour officials and was disqualified.
“I certainly don’t want to be made out as a hero. I’m just a player that did the right thing,” Hayes told the AP’s Jim Litke. Hayes will likely drop to the second-tier Nationwide Tour.
“It’s the most honest thing anyone could do,” fellow pro Rich Beem said. “This guy lost his job because of it.”
