Confirmed Officer: PGA imposes a great penalty to Jhonattan Vegas after Rory Mcilroy’s trap accusation in 2025 PGA Championship
The PGA 2025 championship in Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been pushed to the center of attention for all the wrong reasons, since the PGA of America announced a significant penalty against the leader of First RoundJhonattan VegasAfter investigation into the accusations of trap raised byRory McIlroy. The controversy, which exploded after the impressive 74 of Las Vegas, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, has sent shock waves through the world of golf, tarnishing what was prepared to be a historical moment for the Venezuelan golfer.
Vegas, a four -time winner of the 40 -year -old PGA Tour, confiscated the solo leadership after an scorching end, Birdie five of his last six holes, including a 18 -foot foot in pair 3 8 and a 25 -foot foot in pair 4 9, to publish his best important round. However, Mcilroy, the world’s recent master’s champion and number 2, who fought for a 3 super-part 74, publicly accused Las Vegas de Trap, specifically citing an inadequate fall in Hole 16 PAR 4, part of the infamous “Green Mile” of Quail Hollow. The accusations of Mcilroy, reported for the first time through an X publication by @golfinsider, they affirmed that the Ball of Vegas, which landed in a penalty area, was left closer to the green of what it allowed, which potentially saved a stroke. “The rules are the backbone of this game,” Mcilroy told ESPN after the round. “What I saw in 16 raises serious questions, and I hope the officials investigate it.”
After Mcilroy’s comments, the PGA of America launched accelerated investigation, reviewing video images, testimonies of official players and reports in the course. On Friday, May 16, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. ET, the PGA announced that Vegas had violated rule 14.2 of the golf rules, which governs the appropriate drop procedures. The official statement confirmed that Vegas’s fall was taken at a point “materially closer to the hole than the estimated point where the ball crossed the edge of the penalty area for the last time,” which resulted in atwo -stroke. This adjustment changed the Vegas score on the 16th to a double bogey, reviewing its total first round of 7 low 64 to 5-just under 66, leaving it in a tie per second with CAM Davis and Ryan Gerard, behind a new leaderTom Kim, who maintained its 5 -under 66 with an eagle chip on 15.
The penalty has drastically altered the classification table as the second round progresses. Vegas, which goes back at 9:06 a.m. ET of Friday, now faces greater pressure to maintain its containment under the weight of the controversy. At a press conference after the announcement, Vegas expressed his disappointment but accepted the ruling. “I respect the rules of golf and the decision of the PGA,” he said, as reported by NBC Sports. “I thought I followed the procedure correctly, but the evidence showed the opposite. My approach is now to continue playing my game.” Vegas, who has never finished in the Top 20 in a major, emphasized his intention to advance, noting that his best main round was the result of patience and strong placement, with nine birdies against two Bogeys before penalty.
Mcilroy’s accusation has caused a polarized reaction. Some fans and analysts, including @golfrulesguru in X, praised Mcilroy for defending the integrity of the game, arguing that his height as four times important champion gives credibility to his statements. “Rory’s right to call this: Golf is based on honesty,” said the publication. Others, however, accused Mcilroy of deviating from their own low performance, with @fairwayfanatic writing: “Rory’s 10 shots behind and throwing Las Vegas shade? Sounds like a frustration speaking.” The controversy echoes the Mcilroy brush with a rules dispute in the 2024 players championship, where it was examined by a fall in the seventh hole, feeding the accusations of hypocrisy of some sectors.
The incident of 16, a torque 4 of 508 yards, was particularly controversial due to the difficulty of the hole. Mcilroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, who played in the same group, all double bogeys cards after their tee shots found problems: Mcilroy is in Long Grass, Scheffler and Schauffele in the water. The trio struggles, aggravated by the PGA’s decision not to allow preferred lies despite muddy conditions, led to a broader frustration. Scheffler, who filmed a 2-under 69, and Schauffele, in 1 out of 72, also expressed concern about inconsistent decisions, although they refrained from directly addressing the case of Vegas.
The rapid action of the PGA contrasts with past trap scandals, such as the 2023 PGA Canada incident that involved Justin Doeden, who admitted falsifying a score card and did not face an immediate penalty due to his confession. Historical cases, such as Arnold Palmer’s dispute in the 1958 Masters, as Ken Venturi reports, highlight the complex relationship of golf with the application of the rules. The penalty of Las Vegas, however, underlines PGA’s commitment to transparency in a high -risk specialty.
As the second round develops, the classification table remains fluid. Tom Kim, with his style for dramatic shots, leads 5 bass, while Scottie Scheffler (-2, T20), Justin Thomas (-2, T20) and Bryson Dechambeau (even Par, T48) are among those who pursue. Mcilroy, king at 6:47 p.m. ET, faces a strong challenge to make the cut, projected in +2. The impact of the penalty on the mental game of Las Vegas and the ongoing debate on the reasons for Mcilroy will dominate the discussions, ensuring that the 107th PGA championship remains both on the drama and on golf.
