BMW PGA Championship: Tour pro explains bizarre DQ at Wentworth
BMW PGA Championship: German pro Marcel Siem has explained the circumstances that led to his disqualification at the DP World Tour's flagship event.
Marcel Siem has explained the circumstances that led to his disqualification on day one of the BMW PGA Championship.
The German, 39, thought he was going to sign for an opening 78 on Thursday at the DP World Tour's flagship event at Wentworth.
But the golfer soon realised he had made a giant mistake on the 18th hole and fell foul of the golf rules.
A quick conversation with a tournament official confirmed the bad news.
"I just wanted to give you a quick insight what happened today," Siem told his followers on Instagram late on Thursday.
"I just wanted to let you know I didn't cheat. I would never do that, so I got disqualified, unfortunately.
"On 18, I pushed my driver to the right, [I] hit a provisional, thinking it's out of bounds on the right. Never knew that it's water hazard on the right. Anyways, found my provisional.
"I was just about to hit my provisional, so my fourth shot, so to say. And one of the spectators found my ball, my first one. I walked in there [and I was] tired of the whole day already.
"And the ball was underneath the branch, couldn't chip it out. I said, okay, this is unplayable. Picked the ball up, and then just stupidly hit my fourth shot.
"Just kept going, made birdie with my second ball, so to say, and made a bogey. Then we went into the scoring area, signed. I was just about to sign my card, and I just realised something is off here."
Siem explained that he told his playing partners that he wasn't sure if he made a six or not.
"I said, dude [to the referee], I think I made a mistake here, right? I'm supposed to go back to the 18th tee box and play my third shot, right? Because it's water hazard, and if I declared as unplayable, I have to go back, and I cannot hit my provisional ball."
Siem was correct. He described his last two weeks on tour as 'strange' and 'very upsetting'.
He was referencing the fact he withdrew from last week's Irish Open before completing his first round.
"Yeah, it is what it is, guys. I just wanted to tell you what happened," he said. "And thank you very much for your support. I'm resting up now, and giving my best in France, and see if I can get back on track there.
"I'm actually feeling good now, but sometimes you can't explain things in life. All good. Have a lovely evening."
Watch his explanation here:
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