Golf fans don’t agree on much. Trees or no trees. Rollback or no rollback. Jason Day fits or no Jason Day fits. It seems like everywhere you look, there’s some new battle line being drawn. On Friday at the PGA Championship, however, we were treated to a rare bit consensus when golf fans across X turned out in force to applaud ESPN’s rocket launch-style countdown for Garrick Higgo’s second-round tee time after the South African was penalized two strokes on Thursday for showing up to the tee box late. Mr. Higgo, you are now on the clock.
https://twitter.com/zephyrmelton/status/2055326918489022840
ESPN going full Zapruder on Higgo right now pic.twitter.com/14bhsugUyK
— Paul Hodowanic (@PaulHodowanic) May 15, 2026
https://twitter.com/GOLF_com/status/2055327148110499848
ESPN having a Garrick Higgo “countdown to tee time” graphic is so sicko
— Grant (@Grant_salsman) May 15, 2026
The Garrick Higgo tee time countdown is an incredible bit by the worldwide leader. Outstanding work
— Artist Formerly Known As Ron Mexico (@mbgags18) May 15, 2026
Growth: Garrick Higgo took no chances today, showed up to the tee box 7 minutes early so the rules official knew he was there pic.twitter.com/jPswknZl4a
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 15, 2026
Garrick Higgo showing up to the tee box early, a clock counting over his head and no penalty today. Growth. pic.twitter.com/M9GjQvGXn9
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) May 15, 2026
WE HAVE A GARRICK HIGGO COUNTDOWN CLOCK @KylePorterNS pic.twitter.com/6hTaPYZM8b
— Dan Why-Ner (@ReallyDanWeiner) May 15, 2026
ESPN: “We’ve got a PGA Championship playing like a U.S. Open, with the world’s best golfers fighting for par. Give the viewers non-stop Garrick Higgo coverage.” pic.twitter.com/4JQqgIWY6p
— David (@David04261711) May 15, 2026
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OK, so that last one is more of a complaint, but you’re never going to please everyone. The reality is golf fans love nothing more than complaining about golf broadcasts, so when this many are going out of their way to compliment the “Worldwide Leader,” then you know they did something right. The only thing that could have made this any better is if Higgo cut it close again, but Higgo saved the drama for the golf course on Friday, showing up a full seven minutes early his tee time just to be safe.
Garrick Higgo is at the first tee at 12:36p today, seven minutes early. pic.twitter.com/IT0PAjjj4h
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) May 15, 2026
RELATED: Tour pro points out little-known rule for watching early coverage of a tournament you’re playing in
All good things must come to end, however, and this seems like the logical conclusion of the Garrick Higgo tee time saga. Let’s hope CBS and Paramount+ get the memo before taking over coverage duties on Saturday, because a third straight day of Higgo Hysteria will be one too many.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
