FLW announced Wednesday afternoon that it has disqualified Brandon McMillan for the FLW Tour season opener at Lake Okeechobee.
McMillan, who lives in Clewiston, Fla., and is a threat to win every time he competes at Okeechobee, was found to be in violation of Rule 5 of the FLW Tour rules, which states in part:
"Pros and co-anglers may practice alone, with another contestant or with a member of their immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild or spouse), approved sponsor representatives or an approved youth age 18 or younger, provided the practice companion has also observed the off-limits period and procedures."
It's believed McMillan practiced with another angler who thought he was signed up as a co-angler, but actually wasn't registered for the event.
FLW said in this case the rule violation was inadvertent, but it's the same rule that was cited in the disqualifications of Anthony Gagliardi and Frank Clark.
It's a shocking turn of events for McMillan, who won the FLW Tour Open at Okeechobee in 2011 and entered this year's event as one of the favorites.
Messages left with FLW officials and McMillan were not immediately returned.
