Gugler was disqualified during the opening round of the Raiffeisenbank Golf Challenge in the Czech Republic on June 12, after posting a 75.
The disqualification came after he repeatedly played his ball from the wrong place on the putting greens, with the Swiss golfer deemed to have fallen “below the standards of behaviour and ethical conduct expected of Tour members.”
An Independent Disciplinary Panel convened on November 3 and ruled that Gugler’s actions constituted a serious breach due to a reckless infringement of the Rules of Golf.
In a statement released on his Instagram story, Gugler said: “As an athlete who has played golf since the age of six, and whom fairness, respect and sportsmanship have always been top priorities, this is of course a very difficult moment.
“I have been accused of not marking or placing my ball correctly on the green during the first round of the Kaskada Golf Challenge. This is what my playing partners reported to the tournament officials after the first round.
“My mistake was that, during the initial hearing after the tournament office on the same evening, I somewhat carelessly admitted that it might have been possible – out of simple inattentiveness – that the ball was not placed back exactly on the same spot.
“However, it was never my intention to gain and sort of advantage. Unfortunately, this imprecise statement triggered a long and burdensome process, which has now resulted in this decision.
“I deeply regret this mishap. I accept the decision and I will use it as motivation to be even more careful in the future – especially when marking and replacing my ball on the greens. Thank you for your support during this difficult time.”
