J.P. Hayes was playing the Q school (for you non-golfers (and the Barometer is in that crowd), that’s pro golf’s qualifying school, a series of games in which players compete for the top 25 slots, a position that allows them to enter most PGA tournaments without qualifying). While playing one of the Q school rounds at Houston’s Deerwood Country Club in mid-November 2008, Hayes chipped his ball onto the green and placed a marker. After finishing the hole, he realized that he had used a different ball. He called himself on it, and he took a two-stroke penalty. Oh, but there’s more. Later Mr. Hayes realized that the ball he had used was not one that was PGA-approved. He had some Titlelist prototypes in his bag that he had been testing for the company. He had used a newfangled, unapproved ball. To call or not to call PGA officials? Disqualification vs. six-figures in earnings several times over? Mr. Hayes notified PGA officials. He said, “I pretty much knew at that point that I was going to be disqualified.” It was a mistake, and Mr. Hayes doesn’t know how the prototypes remained in his bag. Players generally make certain that they eliminate those issues before the round.Â
Mr. Hayes put a year of his career on the line to be honest. Being in the Top 25, the rank the Q school gives you, means about $1 million in earnings. Being disqualified from the Q means Mr. Hayes, at his rank, is looking at fewer tournaments and about $300,000 in earnings. The lines we would never cross to be successful — do we have them? Do we honor them? And how many of us would have thrown our caddy under the bus? But, Mr. Hayes took full responsibility and held himself accountable, and all when no one would have known. Thank you, Mr. Hayes. The Barometer is grateful for the example and inspiration.Â
