Joel Dahmen Faces Four-Stroke Penalty, Endangering His PGA Tour Status

Joel Dahmen’s hopes of retaining his PGA Tour card for the 2025 season took a significant hit at the Shriners Children’s Open on Thursday, as he was penalized four strokes for having too many clubs in his bag. This misstep could prove crucial for the 36-year-old golfer, who currently stands at No. 124 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. Only the top 125 players at the end of the fall circuit can maintain their tour status.

Dahmen began his round with pars on the first two holes, but his game took a downturn when he realized at the fourth tee that he had an extra 4-iron in his bag, exceeding the allowed limit of 14 clubs. “I don’t know how it got there. It sucks. It sucks at the spot I’m in as well,” he lamented in a post-round interview.

The penalty for carrying an extra club is severe: two strokes are deducted for each hole played with the violation, capped at a four-stroke penalty in a single round. This rule meant that Dahmen’s first two pars were downgraded to double bogeys, resulting in a disappointing score of five-over 76, placing him at the bottom of the leaderboard.

In an effort to process the situation, Dahmen self-reported the infraction, a move that demonstrates integrity but also exposes him to harsh consequences. “I would like to blame (caddie) Geno (Bonnalie), that would be the easiest thing to do, but it’s not actually his fault either,” Dahmen said, acknowledging the shared responsibility. He noted that he had played practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday without noticing the extra club.

Reflecting on the frustrating incident, Dahmen expressed the emotional turmoil it caused. “It was one of those moments where you want to lose it, and you want to get mad. You want to be mad at yourself, you want to get mad at Geno, you want to get mad at the world,” he explained. He humorously added, “I have a Clif Bar that’s probably two months old in there. There’s probably a banana that’s rotting in that golf bag. There’s all sorts of crap in there.”

With the penalty weighing heavily on him, Dahmen now finds himself 15 strokes behind Canadian leader Taylor Pendrith. His path to success is steep, as he will need to climb into the top 65 players and ties to qualify for the weekend rounds.

Dahmen is not alone in this challenge; play was suspended on Thursday evening due to darkness, and eight players will complete their opening rounds on Friday morning. The second round is scheduled to commence at 9:55 a.m. ET.

As the fall season progresses, Dahmen faces a critical juncture in his career. With four events left after the Shriners Children’s Open, he needs to improve dramatically to secure his tour card for the upcoming year. The pressure is mounting, and each tournament becomes increasingly significant as he battles to reclaim his standing on the tour.

For Dahmen, the road ahead will require not just skill and determination, but also a keen focus on the basics—starting with ensuring he adheres to the club regulations. It serves as a stark reminder that even minor oversights can have major repercussions in the high-stakes world of professional golf.

With a mix of humor and frustration, Dahmen remains hopeful that he can turn his fortunes around. “I’m just going to focus on the next shot and not dwell on what happened,” he stated, highlighting his resilience. Only time will tell if he can bounce back and secure his place on the PGA Tour for the 2025 season.