Tour News

Howell III DQ’d for using non-conforming TaylorMade SLDR

Published

13 years ago

Aug 17, 2013

Charles Howell III, who was tied for 10th place at the Wyndham Championship after rounds of 66-68, was disqualified before the start of the third round for using a non-conforming driver.

The latch that covers the toe section on the sole Howell’s TaylorMade’s SLDR driver came loose while he was hitting balls prior to the second round, and Howell proceeded to play Round 2 without the latch on the driver.

Without the latch, the SLDR has an opened area in the front of the sole that the USGA has deemed non-conforming.

TaylorMade officials said that the USGA requires the latch to be fixed on the TaylorMade driver because the ruling body believes that without the latch, the opened area on the driver’s toe section could provide a possible aerodynamic advantage.

According to TaylorMade officials, the company has found no such advantages in its testing.

The orange circle shows the location of the SLDR’s latch.

The reason the latch is removeable is to give the TaylorMade Tour Van’s staff the ability to swap the SLDR’s sliding weight for a lighter or heavier model. That allows golfers to dial in the swing weight of the club to their exact preference. After the proper swing weight is achieved, the latch is adhered over the hole with glue.

Had the latch come loose during the course of play, Howell would not been DQ’d, as long as he reapplied the latch to the driver head before the start of Round 3.

Click here to see what members are saying about Howell’s DQ in the “Tour Talk” forum.

Related Topics:drivers TaylorMade

Up Next

Move over, Butch: Nick Watney working with Todd Anderson

Don't Miss

U.S. Amateur Semifinals Feature Four Non-U.S. Players

Zak Kozuchowski

60 Comments

Spencer Barber

Aug 22, 2014 at 11:35 pm

Howell did not try to cheat, so the DQ was lame and unnecessary.
The current rules of the game are irrelevant, and one of the underlying causes of people leaving the game. rules design the way a game is played. A over thought, long, boring rule book leads to a game that is exactly the same way to play.
As for TaylorMade, they cut CH3 a $250K ‘were sorry’ check.
say what you want about TM, everything i have seen from inside is that they are hard working people, being the best at what they do, sell drivers.

Reply Report comment
Jeff

Oct 16, 2013 at 11:41 am

There goes the USGA again!! So What? I live in a golf community, and the guys are tired of all silly nit pickin! We have abandoned all the USGA bullshit, and go play to have fun! Anchored putters… Winter rules … Moving balls of of rocks that would ruin your $900 Irons! 15 clubs!! Were outlaws alright! That nit pickin is great for the guys making a million bucks… But for my $3, I just want to have fun!!’
And don’t post this “I heard” BS! I heard the moon is made of cheese…: but I wouldn’t post it!!!

Reply Report comment
petie3

Sep 3, 2013 at 3:51 pm

If someone showed up with an old persimmon driver, would he be DQed if there were a screw missing?

Reply Report comment
thefullsp

Aug 24, 2013 at 10:36 pm

I heard from a TMAG staffer that he likes his R1 much more than the slider garbage. But they are being forced to play them. That’s a fail IMHO.

Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Sep 8, 2014 at 3:41 pm
  
  No one is forced to play anything…
  
  Reply Report comment
Slim II

Aug 23, 2013 at 11:29 pm

Took all those posts for Slim to get it right.

Reply Report comment
Slim

Aug 20, 2013 at 3:29 pm

Stupid, gimmicky driver. The real egg is on Taylormade’s face for that POS they foisted on the world. Everything about this is dumb, including CHIII for using it.

Reply Report comment
Eric

Aug 20, 2013 at 3:03 pm

Just planned hype to help advertize this New Driver!

Reply Report comment
pj

Aug 19, 2013 at 10:20 pm

Thank god Tiger does not play Taylormade .. what rule book would they use

Reply Report comment
- Frank Garrett
  
  Oct 13, 2013 at 8:27 pm
  
  If he wants the longest driver in the game he should
  
  Reply Report comment
  - bradford
    
    Sep 8, 2014 at 3:43 pm
    
    Sure about that? Any of the long drive guys playing it? No? Not one? Hmmm…..maybe that’s because it’s just not…
    
    Reply Report comment
Chuck

Aug 19, 2013 at 1:40 pm

The simple reason that the USGA has extremely complicated rules on driver heads is because manufacturers keep on doing extremely complicated things in an effort to push the boundaries on all of those rules.

Rules are rules, and sometimes enforcement is tough. You really can’t have anything so vague as to suggest, “No penalty if the player wasn’t seeking a technical advantage…” I’d hate to have to enforce something as subjective as that.

Anyway, here’s my question about the SLDR: why have that latch/cover at all? Why not a simple, solid screw that can be undone with the same TMaG wrench used on other driver components? Why “cover” the access port to the inside of the head? That would be the easy way to promote the ability to hot-melt a driver.

Has anybody determined yet whether CHIII’s SLDR was a Version 1 or Version 2?

My suspicion is that this issue is caused by TaylorMade wanting to create a driver which has a port for hotmelting by tour players and high-end builders, but which is disguised as though it didn’t even exist for the mass market, which knows nothing about hotmelting. Essentially, a design for two tiers of players; one smart, and another dumbed-down.

If that is that case, shame on Taylormade for dumbing anything down.

Reply Report comment
- Chuck
  
  Aug 19, 2013 at 2:30 pm
  
  Reply to self:
  
  We need to note (as Zak correctly did in the original post), that while CHIII likely did have some hotmelting done to his SLDR, the reason for the size and shape of the cavity at the end of the slider-track is to be able to not merely gain access to the inside of the head for hotmelting, but also to change out the entire slider-weight.
  
  That also dovetails with hotmelting, I presume. That a pro who wants a lot of hot-melt may need a lighter slider-weight to get the entire static weight of the head back to a good overall swingweight in the club.
  
  And so because the “port” at the toe-end of the slider track has to accomodate removal of the entire weight, it can’t simply be a threaded screw-hole.
  
  This is an eminently solveable engineering problem; there ought to be some way to do that sole so that the weight can be removed and replaced, and so that there can be some access to the interior of the head.
  
  And for ordinary (and even competitive) golfers, the rule is pretty simple. If your cover flies off during a swing while in play, you can finish with the club in that condition, no penalty. If the cover comes off when you whack your SLDR against a tee marker because you just hooked one behind a tree, you should immediately take it out of play. And if you finish a round with a broken SLDR, you should replace the hatch and glue it into place before you take it out again.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Frank Garrett
  
  Oct 13, 2013 at 8:23 pm
  
  Near as possible is pretty suggestive…..
  If I drop a ball to an inch, I could’ve dropped it to 1/2 inch so I guess I should be dq’ed……. People on this site will cry till tiger signs with mizuno
  
  Reply Report comment
DB

Aug 19, 2013 at 9:56 am

It’s a bit absurd that Howell was DQ’d for this. I having been leaning more towards the PGA Tour is hurting the game, especially with everything thats happened with anchoring the putter. The USGA is definitely hindering the game, but I didn’t expect to see the Tour follow suit. A bigger issue than anchoring the putter or latches coming off, is PACE OF PLAY. The fact it takes threesomes out there 6 hours to play a round, I’m ok with a DQ for that. Time for the end of the season so they can hit reset look back on this year and learn from decisions that have been made this year.

Reply Report comment
- Frank Garrett
  
  Oct 13, 2013 at 8:20 pm
  
  You’re just spitting out what you’ve heard somewhere else……trophies are award at 5-515 my time…..
  Just like ’84.
  
  Reply Report comment
austin

Aug 18, 2013 at 5:23 pm

im not a tiger lover by any means but the whole tiger thing at the masters was handled exactly how it should have been handled he did not sign an incorrect scorecard when he turned his scorecard in the rules officials never told him there was a penalty which means when he signed the scorecard it was correct so enough with that
the whole situation was the committees fault for not deciding on a ruling until the next day that’s not tigers problem

Reply Report comment
- Bob Pegram
  
  Aug 19, 2013 at 12:56 am
  
  It is the player’s responsibility to follow the rules, not to see if the committee catches a rules violation. Tiger is dishonest!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Frank Garrett
    
    Oct 13, 2013 at 8:25 pm
    
    Whatever happened to drop where you want no nearer the hole
    Like b Watson did at whistling straits
    
    Reply Report comment
Tempo Power

Aug 18, 2013 at 5:07 pm

Always keep your latch closed while driving your balls.

Reply Report comment
corey

Aug 18, 2013 at 4:21 pm

its really silly but the rules are the rules. just like the legal system, its not perfect but you have to respect it. And the Tiger comments are silly, the officials knew about the Tiger issue as soon as it happened and made a ruling. Quoting Jack Nicklaus about whether Tiger should have withdrew: “If Tiger did that, he’d be putting himself in a position of saying, `I’m above the rules.’ You accept the ruling whether it’s good or bad for you.”

Reply Report comment
- Bob Pegram
  
  Aug 19, 2013 at 12:54 am
  
  The Masters people didn’t want to lose him as a draw for on course crowds and TV audience size. Woods should have been DQ’d.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - John
    
    Aug 24, 2013 at 12:07 am
    
    The master’s rule committee even checked with the USGA and they confirmed it was the correct ruling.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Frank Garrett
      
      Oct 13, 2013 at 8:14 pm
      
      So even the masters rules committee didn’t know the rule. They had to check with someone else…..but why are we posting about this when we could be bashing tm and talking about how great mizuno is. I thought that was what this site is for
      
      Reply Report comment
- james
  
  Aug 21, 2013 at 10:29 am
  
  he did accept the ruling. The rules were changed 2 years prior, no?
  
  Reply Report comment
Mario Good Times

Aug 18, 2013 at 3:07 pm

The problem I have is he was DQ’ed for something ad weird as this. But Tiger signs a wrong scorecard violates a rule knowingly and gets a 2 stroke penalty.. I ask this, if this was Tiger does the same penalty apply?

Reply Report comment
- james
  
  Aug 21, 2013 at 10:28 am
  
  I don’t get the tiger hate from the masters. I thought it was pretty clear that they made the rule in regards to call in violations 2 years prior…but it’s tiger’s fault. right.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dan

Aug 18, 2013 at 9:58 am

When stage 2 comes out in a week or so the problem will be fixed

Reply Report comment
Stephen K

Aug 18, 2013 at 9:24 am

New driver release in 3 months for TM. One with a hole in it, more aerodynamic, faster and longer than the old SDLR…

Reply Report comment
Ben Hudson

Aug 18, 2013 at 9:08 am

LOL at Taylormade

Reply Report comment
Matt

Aug 17, 2013 at 11:17 pm

I’m just wondering how that’s more of an aerodynamic advantage than say the BIG GAPING VOID in the back of the new Nike Covert!

Reply Report comment
Gurj rai

Aug 17, 2013 at 7:26 pm

Had this been Vijay i bet everyone would have been on his case about how he’d tried to cheat on purpose!

Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 11:32 pm
  
  Because it would have been cheating if it was Vijay. There you go, you’re welcome!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Derek
    
    Aug 18, 2013 at 10:25 am
    
    Sorry I was meant to reply to the dumb Nike comment below.
    
    Reply Report comment
Kevin Hefner

Aug 17, 2013 at 7:24 pm

The really bad thing is now there will be hundreds of amateurs trying to take out the latch on their drivers because they think if it is non-conforming, it will perform better.

Reply Report comment
tonyk

Aug 17, 2013 at 6:25 pm

As an automotive engineer, I bet the latch opening actually hurts aerodynamics.

Reply Report comment
KK

Aug 17, 2013 at 6:21 pm

Haha, that’s tough. I don’t see how it will be much more aerodynamic than the huge gaping sldr hole but hey, I’m not a trained USGA official.

Reply Report comment
- Bob Pegram
  
  Aug 19, 2013 at 12:52 am
  
  The Adams drivers are built to e aerodynamic. If that isn’t illegal (shouldn’t be), why is this? Like KK said, it is probably LESS aerodynamic!
  This is ridiculous. Even the TaylorMade trailer staff didn’t know it was a problem.
  
  Reply Report comment
Ben Dover

Aug 17, 2013 at 5:56 pm

haha. That’s what he gets for playing such a gimmicky driver. Should’ve just played a Mizuno driver to match his cap.

Reply Report comment
- Sully
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 9:07 pm
  
  Too many adjustments! What happen to just epoxy and a club head! NO need for a wrench of any kind!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Holdma Deek
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 10:39 pm
  
  Typical Hater. TMAG makes the longest, best looking, best selling drivers in the game and he calls it gimmicky. Grab your Mizuno Blue Rage and your matching hat and don’t be late for your golfnow tee time tomorrow.
  
  #marketshare
  #driverlove
  #lonelyatthetop
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jim
    
    Aug 17, 2013 at 11:34 pm
    
    lame…
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Mario Good Times
    
    Aug 18, 2013 at 3:10 pm
    
    I love golfnow…..
    
    Reply Report comment
  - BR
    
    Aug 18, 2013 at 10:40 pm
    
    You are standing up for the most mass marketed company in golf?!? Sure they sell more because you can buy them at sports authority and every other big box sports store. You can’t even buy a titleist club at one. THey also have to claim their new driver is the “companys” longest driver ever, because they cant prove that its the longest. They pay to get their numbers on tour! And for the record…I much preferred the Mizuno T-zoid forged driver. That thing was smooth…. I also wish they brought back lastminutegolfer:)
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Weekendwillie
    
    Aug 20, 2013 at 10:15 pm
    
    I’m waiting for the 2015 “TXTR” driver. You can download an APP and text your settings to the driver and it adjusts itself. rBZ now this ? Gimmicky for sure! I though the miller light vortex bottle was bad!
    
    Reply Report comment
Heyzues Escobar

Aug 17, 2013 at 4:40 pm

Reminds me of a Mizuno driver from a couple years back. Viva la Mexico Fútbol!

Reply Report comment
Greg

Aug 17, 2013 at 2:42 pm

It’s unfortunate but it’s alkali what i love about golf. Strict adherence to rules. Think about what a joke the nba had become.

Reply Report comment
- Billy
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 3:27 pm
  
  Don’t know what NBA has to do with random golf rules.
  
  There are referees on court making the decision for you, if you deserve a penalty or not. I bet half PGA players don’t know most of the rule book. Charles Howell III sure didn’t know if the latch fell off that he would be DQ’d.
  
  Reply Report comment
- BigG
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 3:52 pm
  
  Yeah strict adherence……. Unles your last name is Woods.
  
  Reply Report comment
aaron

Aug 17, 2013 at 2:15 pm

It is stupid crap like this that makes me absolutely hate the USGA….we need to have a massive look at the rules of golf and take out the asinine rules that hinder the play and enjoyment of the game….STUPID!!!!

Reply Report comment
- John
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 3:46 pm
  
  Completely agree. There are sooo many stupid rules that have no reason to be in there. It’s like a nerd took and saw how many non-important rules he could make for the game.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Bob Pegram
  
  Aug 19, 2013 at 12:47 am
  
  In this case it is the PGA, although they follow the USGA rules except in rare instances.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Flange Bebe
    
    Aug 20, 2013 at 7:29 pm
    
    Actually, it’s not the PGA, it’s the PGA Tour. They are 2 completely separate organizations.
    
    I completely agree with others above that the USGA and it’s stupid rules interpretation is ruining golf. I dropped my membership and don’t plan to go back.
    
    Reply Report comment
Scott

Aug 17, 2013 at 2:14 pm

Poor to class it as an illegal driver as that
implies he was trying to cheat?!

Reply Report comment
Joey E

Aug 17, 2013 at 12:13 pm

Did Howell not know that this would DQ him? Why didn’t he just go to the TM van and get a new driver? Very odd.

Reply Report comment
- Agreed
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 1:10 pm
  
  He prob didn’t even notice it gone….prob looked in bag before round and broke during practice session….I don’t believe a DQ was necessary, as he wasn’t trying to deceive the integrity of game. Simply tell him this must be fixed before start of 3rd round. Unless I’m totally missing story as explained
  
  Reply Report comment
- Aaron
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 1:22 pm
  
  He didnt have the option to go to the Taylor made van. They all pack up the vans on Wednesday and head out for the next event. He didn’t likely know that with out that part the driver would be non conforming. Crappy for sure
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mayukh
    
    Aug 18, 2013 at 12:12 am
    
    All the vans are generally there till friday or saturday!
    
    Reply Report comment
- nick
  
  Aug 17, 2013 at 7:37 pm
  
  worse thing is , howell asked taylormade people there if this was a problem and they told him it was fine so he played it.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Frank Garrett
    
    Oct 13, 2013 at 8:04 pm
    
    Worst part was the $$$ he lost
    Idk why you think being lied to is worse than losing a lot of money
    
    Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.