Garrick Higgo didn't let a little thing like a two-stroke penalty throw off his game—and he made sure he was on time for Friday's second round of the PGA Championship, unlike his rocky start a day earlier.

The 27-year-old South African stepped up to the 10th tee at 12:43 p.m. (1643 GMT) right on schedule, launching a massive 361-yard drive straight down the fairway. It was a clean, confident start that showed he'd put Thursday's mishap behind him.

That earlier blunder came when Higgo arrived just seconds late to his 7:18 a.m. tee time for the opening round at Aronimink. Without his watch or cell phone, he lost track of time while practicing on an adjacent putting green. The result? A two-stroke penalty that turned what would have been a routine opening par into a double-bogey.

But here's where the story gets interesting: despite that early setback, Higgo fired a one-under-par 69 in his first round. If he'd managed that opening par instead of the penalty-induced double-bogey, he would have been tied for the 18-hole lead at three-under—joining an already record-setting pack of seven co-leaders, the most at a major since 1969.

"I'm super proud," Higgo said after his opening round. "A lot of guys would have shot a lot after what I went through. I think it shows a lot of mental strength the way I kept fighting."

That mental toughness is exactly what every golfer needs—whether you're on the PGA Tour or just trying to beat your personal best at the local course. And as Higgo himself admitted, "I wouldn't have been late if I knew I was running late."

For anyone who's ever scrambled to make a tee time, Higgo's story is a reminder: a good watch (and maybe a quick glance at your phone) can save you a lot of headaches—and strokes.