Tony Romo disqualified after unusual scoring error in Korn Ferry pre-qualifier

Tony Romo’s latest attempt to pursue professional golf ended in disqualification after an unusual scoring error.

The 46-year-old Romo, a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and former CBS Sports lead NFL analyst, played in a three-round Korn Ferry Q-School pre-qualifier at the Club at Forest Ridge in Broken Arrow, Okla. After opening rounds of 76 and 75, he was 13 shots behind the 36-hole leaders but still had a good chance to finish among the top 37 and ties and advance to the first of three Korn Ferry Tour qualifying stages.

Romo played the final round with amateur Ethan Smith, a college golfer from Nebraska, and Louisiana professional Brandon Rice. All three needed an even-par round or better to remain in contention. Smith shot 80, while Rice shot 75. Romo was playing the best of the group: he reached the turn in 37, one over par.

The group was put on the clock after falling behind pace. Romo made no birdies on the back nine, again shot 37 and signed for a 74. His three-round progression looked neat: 76-75-74. At first, it appeared he had missed advancing by three shots.

Later, however, it emerged that Romo recorded 4s on both the 16th and 17th holes, although, according to the players and a South Central PGA representative who had been monitoring the group, he made 5s on both holes—three-putt bogeys in each case.

Rice, who was Romo’s marker, told Ryan French, publisher of Monday Q Info, in a phone interview that he initially had Romo down for a 5 on the 16th hole. According to French, Romo told Rice in scoring that he had made a 4 and signed the card with that score. Rob Keller, a PGA Tour rules official for 12 years who oversaw the pre-qualifier, later determined that Romo had also recorded a 4 instead of a 5 on the 17th hole.

Under the Rules of Golf, a player is disqualified for signing for a score lower than the score actually made and failing to correct the error within 15 minutes of leaving the scoring area. In PGA Tour-sanctioned events, that provision is applied through a modified local rule.

Keller interviewed Smith and Rice by phone and then asked Romo to recall the two holes. Keller said Romo accepted responsibility for the incorrect card, spoke highly of the event and its administration, and acknowledged that he would not have advanced either way. Keller suggested that the pace-of-play warning and Romo’s frustration with the round may have affected his care in checking the card.

As a result, Romo did not finish the tournament with a score of 225. Even 227, the total produced by adding the two 5s, is technically incorrect: under the Rules of Golf, Romo has no third-round score. Instead of a number, two letters—DQ—appear next to his name.

Romo previously received a sponsor’s exemption into a PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic in 2018. He shot 77 in the first round and 82 in the second and missed the cut by 16 shots.

As a football player, Romo went 2-4 in six playoff games, all with the Dallas Cowboys. In 2020, he signed a 10-year, $180 million contract with CBS; according to Variety, he was reportedly still owed $74 million when the relationship ended on Oct. 2. Romo also drew attention after being arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and later entering a no-contest plea in that case.

Romo has said that his life is at a crossroads and that he plans to take time to reflect. He may try to devise a plan to reach the senior tour within the next four years. If he does, potential fellow rookies would include Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter and Lucas Glover, all of whom are 46.

The article was written by Michael Bamberger for GOLF.com.