Frank Kennedy Challenges DP World Tour Q-School Disqualification After Green Incident

Frank Kennedy has challenged his Q-School disqualification after an incident on the 11th green in Spain.© Ndtv Gallery

Frank Kennedy has asked the DP World Tour to review his disqualification from the final stage of Qualifying School after an incident on the 11th green at Infinitum Golf Resort in Spain. The 21-year-old English golfer said he accidentally struck the putting surface with his putter after missing a birdie putt, but denied deliberately damaging the course. He also said he and his playing partner repaired the mark before leaving the green. The DP World Tour gave the reason for his removal as “serious misconduct after causing deliberate damage to the course”. Kennedy has disputed that description and is now waiting for the Tour to respond to his request.

Frank Kennedy Explains What Happened On The 11th Green

Kennedy said the incident happened after he missed a birdie putt on the par-5 11th. He tapped in, then accidentally hit the green with his putter as he walked away.

"On the 11th green I missed a birdie putt and tapped in. In frustration, as I was walking off the green, I swung my putter and it accidentally caught the surface.

"My playing partner and I repaired it straight away, and we were both satisfied it was properly fixed before we moved on. I should have called the referee to check the repair, and I've learned from that."

Kennedy also rejected claims that he had damaged the green on purpose.

"I did not intentionally or deliberately damage the putting surface, and any comments saying otherwise are wholly incorrect."

The incident was first reported by American golf journalist Ryan French, who runs the Monday Q Info account. French said a player described the damage as a "one-foot divot" around four feet behind the hole. Fellow competitor Max Schmitt later shared his account on Instagram: “Played behind him today..! The divot was pretty disgusting. Our group didn't know it was him..! But my ball was 1 inch away from the divot.”

Frank Kennedy's Disqualification Changes Q-School Cut

Kennedy had shot a three-under 69 in the fourth round, with seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey. He was tied for 28th at 15-under after 72 holes of the 108-hole event and was in position to make the cut for the final two rounds.

His removal changed the cut line from 12-under to 11-under, allowing seven more players to continue. Only the top 15 and ties after six rounds will earn DP World Tour cards for the 2027 season.

Kennedy won the 2024 Euram Bank Open and finished 62nd in the 2026 HotelPlanner Tour rankings, giving him Category 8 status for next year.

He has now asked the DP World Tour to explain its decision and review the ruling. In his statement, he said:

"I have always respected and followed the Rules of Golf. If accidental contact like this, repaired at once, is a disqualification offence, I will respect that. But it isn't clear to me that it is, and many senior players I've spoken to this evening were surprised by the decision.

"So I have asked the DP World Tour for clarification and a review, and I will respect the outcome of that review. While that happens, I won't be commenting further."

GolfMagic reported Kennedy's response on November 10. The DP World Tour's disqualification remains in place while his request is pending.