LIV Golf showed what a serious business it can be on the weekend after dishing out a brutal penalty to new recruit Adrian Meronk that cost him about A$385,000.
The Pole was penalised for slow play in Jeddah and handed a one-shot penalty.
It dropped him from a share of fifth-place with Jon Rahm to a share for sixth.
The difference of that blow in prize money comes to about USD$250,000.
Watch every round of the PGA Tour LIVE & Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
Outside of the massive loss in prize money, the penalty is notable for its application when compared to the PGA Tour.
According to The Telegraph, the PGA Tour hasn’t penalised a player for slow play in an individual tournament since Glen Day in 1995.
It’s worth noting John Catlin was penalised at the 2021 USPGA Championship — although the major is not run by the PGA Tour.
Meronk was only signed by LIV Golf on the eve of the new season but has already fallen on the wrong side of its referees.
While their strict view is seemingly at odds with a 54-hole format and loud on-course entertainment, LIV Golf is taking the playing rules seriously.
A LIV statement said: “Meronk was immediately notified by the official and assessed a one-stroke penalty.”
Last year, Richard Bland was also hit with the same penalty on the LIV Golf circuit.
LIV Golf is not as concerned with other infringements, however.
For example, the PGA Tour is swift to punish golfers who voice audible obscenities on broadcasts, but Rahm has already escaped with doing the same at LIV Golf.