Frank Kennedy disqualified from DP World Tour qualifying

Frank Kennedy was disqualified from the final stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School after the tour cited serious misconduct and deliberate damage to the course, a decision the English golfer disputes. Kennedy said his putter accidentally struck the 11th green and that he and his playing partner repaired the mark immediately. He has asked the DP World Tour for clarification and a review; the reports say the decision remained in place while he awaited a response.

The incident occurred during the fourth round of the six-round event at Infinitum in Spain. Kennedy said he missed a birdie putt, tapped in and swung his putter while walking off the green, accidentally catching the surface. He said he should have called a referee to inspect the repair, but he and his partner believed they had fixed it properly.

The tour’s stated reason for the disqualification was “serious misconduct after causing deliberate damage to the course.” The articles relay that explanation through a statement reported by Ryan French, and do not provide further details of the tour’s evidence or reasoning. Reports citing unnamed sources described a divot on the green, with one player characterizing it as about...