I'm Not Really Sure What to Do

Australian John Lyras turned pro four years ago and this morning, teed it up in his first Korn Ferry Tour event. A costly mistake on his first hole resulted in a DQ, and some anxiety for his the season ahead. 

The group of Josh Creel, Andrew Kozan, and Lyras teed off this morning on the 10th hole at Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Club in the first KFT event of the season. The 10th is a 460-yard par-4 with water all down the right. On his second shot, Lyras hit his ball at a penalty area right of the green, and assumed it was in the water. Since he was the last to hit his approach shot, both Creel and Kozan were up near the green when Lyras hit. 

When they turned around, Lyras had dropped a ball in front of the penalty area and according to Creel, Kozan motioned that Lyras’ original ball was not in the water and playable. Lyras then picked up the ball he had just dropped and played the hole out with his original ball.  (Once you drop a ball, it is in play, therefore you can't pick it up and play the original ball)

Soon after, Lyras realized he had made a mistake and the group discussed the situation. A few holes later, the group ran into a rules official and explained what had happened. According to the group, the rules official wasn’t sure what the penalty was and told the group he would get back to them. 

At the turn, the rules official interviewed the entire group and soon after, Lyras was informed he was disqualified. 

The DQ is a costly one: Lyras is a rookie and holds conditional status after falling one stroke short of guaranteed starts at Q-school. Lyras is currently 11 spots out of next week’s event, which is also played in the Bahamas. 

“I’m not really sure what to do right now,” Lyras says about his plans for the next event. He booked a flight home to Orlando but seemed unsure if that was the right decision. With conditional PGA Tour members in next week’s KFT event, and the possibility they move into the American Express Invitational field, Lyras is considering sticking around with the hopes he moves up the KFT alternate list. 

These weeks in the Bahamas are also expensive: Lyras spent thousands of dollars to essentially play one hole. To rub salt in the wound, after the rules breach Lyras played the next nine holes in 3-under par before he was officially DQ’d. 

In an IG post Lyras says, “Amazing what happens when you’re super excited and anxious all together. You make stupid and quick decisions that can cost you so much, everything you worked for.” 

Here is hoping he learns from his mistake and gets another shot soon.