Hideki Matsuyama was disqualified from the Memorial Tournament for markings on his three-wood during Thursday's first round.
Having completed the ninth hole, the 2021 Masters Champion was told that his equipment was in breach of PGA Tour regulations.
It was the first time that he had been disqualified from a PGA tour event.
Hideki Matsuyama has been disqualified from @MemorialGolf for a non-conforming club (rule 4.1a). pic.twitter.com/7Z1HHH0LwG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 2, 2022
PGA Tour senior tournament director Steve Rintoul said images of the club were posted online and his team only learned of them after Matsuyama had used it on the first tee.
"Unfortunately, our committee learned right after Hideki had teed off that he may be carrying a club that would be non-conforming," Rintoul said.
"There is a substance that has been applied to the face by a gentleman that works on Hideki's clubs.
"Rule 4a (3) within the equipment rules speaks to applying a substance to the face could unduly affect the performance of a ball; the flight, the spin, all the performance of the ball."
BREAKING: Hideki Matsuyama has been disqualified from the 2022 Memorial Tournament midway through his first round. pic.twitter.com/vOWJlTNjKg
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 2, 2022
Matsuyama had made three bogeys in his first nine holes and would have made the turn in 3-over 38.
Having won the tournament in 2014, it will prove an arduous situation in preparation for the US Open.
