The European Tour Group on Friday announced that it will be imposing a hefty suspension on a pro golfer for "recklessly" breaking the rules.

Cedric Gugler, a 25-year-old from Switzerland, received a 10-event suspension from the Hotel Planner Tour — the DP World Tour's developmental circuit — after being disqualified from an event in June for playing his ball from the wrong spot on the green on "multiple occasions," according a statement from the tour Friday. An independent disciplinary panel oversaw the matter.

"[The panel] ruled that Gugler’s conduct was a serious breach of the Tour’s Code of Behavior by virtue of a reckless infringement of the Rules of Golf," officials said in the announcement.

Gugler responded to the suspension via Instagram Stories on Friday, saying that his mistake was admitting that he could have placed his ball incorrectly after his playing partners — Aron Zemmer of Italy and Adri Arnaus of Spain — reported him for the violation during the first round of the 2025 Raiffeisenbank Golf Challenge at Kaskada Golf Resort in the Czech Republic.

"As an athlete who has played golf since the age of six, and for whom fairness, respect, and sportsmanship have always been top priorities, this is of course a very difficult moment," Gugler wrote on Instagram. "I have been accused of not marking or replacing my ball correctly on the green during the first round [at Kaskada]. This is what my playing partners reported to the tournament officials after the round.

"My mistake was that, during the initial hearing in 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 any sort of advantage. Unfortunately, this imprecise statement triggered a long and burdensome process, which has now resulted in this decision."

Gugler went on to say he regrets the "mishap" and accepts the panel's decision. The Hotel Planner Tour's 2026 season kicks off Jan. 29 in South Africa and that's when Gugler's suspension will begin. The exact date when he could return has yet to be determined as the schedule is not yet finalized, but he will be allowed to compete again after the first 10 events are in the books.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Swiss pro golfer receives hefty suspension for 'recklessly' breaking rules

Reporting by Nick Stavas, Golfweek / Golfweek

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