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Needing win to earn PGA Tour card, Adam Hadwin docked 2 shots for relief error

Adam Hadwin faces a critical moment in his bid to reclaim his PGA Tour status after a costly rules error during Thursday’s opening round of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. The 38-year-old Canadian, who needs a victory this week to secure his card, was penalized two strokes on the second hole for taking excessive relief—using a full club-length instead of the allowed one-scorecard’s length.

The mistake, which turned a par into a double bogey, dropped him from contention early, though he later rallied to finish 1-under 70. Hadwin, who had been tied for the lead after a strong start, now trails despite his recent form, including a runner-up finish at the Panama Championship earlier this year.

With seven PGA Tour cards still up for grabs, his performance over the final rounds will determine whether he can return to full status after a season on the Korn Ferry Tour.

The incident also highlighted a potential source of confusion, as Hadwin had played the PGA Tour’s Biltmore Championship just weeks prior, where officials had temporarily extended relief to a full club-length. Rules official Adam Helmer, who is also Canadian, confirmed the penalty after Hadwin self-reported the infraction.

Despite the setback, Hadwin remains in the hunt, having made seven cuts in 13 starts this season and posted two top-10 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour.

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