Jason Millard could have been playing the U.S. Open starting Thursday.
Instead, he'll be watching from home with a clear conscience.
Millard initially qualified for a spot at the Pinehurst No. 2 course in North Carolina, but he pulled himself out over a possible rules violation. He may — or may not — have grounded his club in the sand while hitting a bunker shot during sectional qualifying at Memphis, Tenn.
Millard, 24, actually started driving toward Pinehurst from his home in Murfreesboro, Tenn., before pulling over at a convenience store, calling up the U.S. Golf Association and disqualifying himself from the tournament.
It was a gut-wrenching decision, but one that Millard felt he had to make. In golf, the players are largely responsible for policing themselves. Millard isn't sure he did anything wrong, but he didn't want to take a chance.
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