Golf can be a tough game. On a good day full of birdies and clean iron shots, it can still deliver its hardest lesson, not with a missed putt, but with a rule nobody expected. That’s what happened in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale this week.
It feels unreal: a player lost a match without taking a stroke on the final hole because his caddie got a cart ride to the tee box. What should have been a dramatic finish ended in disqualification over a minor rule.
For golf fans, this was more than a strange twist. It showed how strict the rules are, and how easily they can turn a great match into a frustrating ending.
A Caddie’s Cart Ride Triggered A Shocking Mid-Amateur Disqualification
Paul Mitzel, 35, from Seattle, was in the Round of 64 in the U.S. Mid‑Amateur. He and his opponent, Ryan O’Rear, had already put on a show: trading birdies and steady pars through regulation before heading to sudden death extra holes.
Then came the 20th hole, one Mitzel never got to play. His caddie, after walking off the 19th green, accepted a lift from a shuttle driver to the next tee box. It was offered by someone helping with course transportation, and the caddie assumed it was fine.
After the match, Mitzel spoke about the strange finish. “The match was incredible,” Mitzel said. “I’ve played a lot of match play, and I’ve never experienced anything like that… Not sure I’ll ever experience anything like that again. Too bad it had to end that way.”
Under the Model Local Rule G‑6, “a player or caddie must not ride on any form of motorized transportation except as authorized or later approved by the committee.” The rule is straightforward. And so, despite not taking a single shot on the 20th, Mitzel was disqualified when the walking referee called the violation.
Mitzel tried to appeal or at least continue the playoff, but the request was denied. His opponent, O’Rear, moved on to the next round. Fans and Mitzel were left stunned: not by a big shot or tough putt, but by a technicality nobody expected.
What The Incident Says About Golf’s Strict Rulebook And Its Consequences
Rules give structure, fairness, and integrity. Golf, more than most sports, depends on precise rules and self-enforcement. But when a rule punishes something as small as a shuttle ride to the tee, it shows how unforgiving the book can be.
Mitzel pointed out that players were already being shuttled between other holes, including the stretch from the 14th green to the 15th tee. The shuttle driver simply asked his caddie if he wanted a lift. It seemed harmless, but the penalty was automatic.
From fans’ reactions to social media chatter, there was a clear sense of disappointment, not just for Mitzel, but for the sport itself. One fan wrote, “This isn’t the first time this has happened. This isn’t an obscure rule. The caddie should feel like sh*t.”
Another fan pointed out, “This is not professional golf with professional caddies. This is amateur golf with amateur caddies. It’s too bad the governing body didn’t have the sense to review obscure rules with the amateur player and particularly the amateur caddy.”
Not every rule is bad. Some exist for safety, others for fairness. But when the penalty is losing a match without even taking a swing on the last hole, it shows the need for balance. Rules like G‑6 could use more flexibility so the punishment fits the moment. Otherwise, great matches will keep ending with paperwork instead of play.
Published: Sep 16, 2025 02:03 pm