Amateur Golfer Josh Howell won the Amateur X3 division at the 2026 BMW Charity Pro-Am with a handicap that wasn't his. The tournament investigated and confirmed it.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am announced the decision on July 6. It stripped Howell of the Amateur X3 division title after investigating cheating. Then officially named Chris Harrison the division winner.

The tournament later released a statement confirming its decision. It said integrity and sportsmanship would always be at the heart of the event.

"Moving forward, we are implementing enhanced registration review procedures and additional handicap verification protocols to help ensure an equitable playing field for every professional, celebrity, and amateur participant," the statement reads.

The investigation was triggered by a report published on June 17, 2026, by X user Yip Strickler. Sandbagging works by inflating a handicap so that a golfer's gross score converts to a lower net number.

It effectively is a built-in scoring advantage over every competitor.

Strickler alleged that Howell registered with the Wyoming State Golf Club under a 5.0 handicap. He said the account was created just one month before the tournament. The account had only five rounds posted.

A second account in the name of Joshua Howell, registered with Soldier Hollow Golf Club in Utah, listed a handicap of +0.9. The gap between those two numbers, nearly six strokes, is the alleged advantage.

Strickler said Howell registered with the Wyoming State Golf Club under a 5.0 handicap. He also said Joshua Howell registered a second account with Soldier Hollow Golf Club in Utah and listed a handicap of +0.9.

Howell had partnered with Korn Ferry Tour pro David Kocher in the event. The margin of victory was nine shots. In round one, Kocher shot a one-over 71. Yet the team posted a six-under 64. A gap the source attributed directly to Howell's inflated handicap working through the net-scoring system.

Strickler praised the tournament's response on X after the statement was released.

The Korn Ferry Tour refused to comment when contacted by Golf Monthly. Josh Howell has made no public statement.

The Net-Score Advantage Explained

Sandbagging works by inflating a handicap through posting only poor rounds or intentionally playing below ability. 

In net-score competitions, a higher handicap gives a player a lower net score.

For example, a golfer with a 5.0 handicap who shoots 75 finishes with a net score of 70.

A golfer with a +0.9 handicap who shoots the same 75 finishes with a net score of 75.9. That difference shows the advantage of having a higher handicap.

The nine-shot winning margin stood out because players in amateur pro-am divisions usually finish only one or two strokes apart.

Harrison's team, which combined with Korn Ferry Tour pro Dylan Menante, finished nine shots back.

The large winning margin was one of the reasons people started asking questions. Officials also accused Aaron Rodgers of sandbagging at the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but they let him keep his title.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am has updated its results and announced stricter checks for future tournaments.

Do you think golf events need stricter handicap verification processes? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham