NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — He lost track of time and then he lost two strokes.

Had it not been for a fistful of errant seconds, Garrick Higgo would have walked off the 18th hole at Aronimink Golf Club with a share of the first-round 3-under-par lead at the PGA Championship on Thursday.

But, because he was seconds late to the first tee for his 7:18 a.m. tee time, tournament officials penalized the 27-year-old South African two strokes before he took his first stroke of the round.

Higgo went on to finish his opening round with a 1-under-par 69, which would have been a 3-under 67 had he not been penalized.

According to Rule 5.3 in the Rules of Golf, a player is assessed a two-stroke penalty when arriving no more than five minutes late to his or her tee time. Any player arriving more than five minutes late is subject to disqualification.

But the PGA of America’s Local Rules and Terms of Competition define the starting point of a round on the Nos. 1 and 10 holes by the “rope, gallery stakes, green bike fencing and/or blue stakes, blue dots or blue lines.”

The PGA said Higgo was “not within the area defined as the starting point of his starting time.’’

Thus, Higgo was credited with double-bogey 6 on the par-4 first hole, even though he took only four strokes on the hole.

“As I walked down (to the tee), the announcer who gave me the scorecard said that I had a two-shot penalty,’’ Higgo said. “Obviously, it wasn’t great. I knew that I firstly had to get a driver and I have to hit a tee shot. I just kind of focused on what I need to do. I mean, I wasn’t going to give up and shoot 80.

“There was only one thing that I could do, and that was make birdies and pars and hit it where I wanted to hit it. I think it shows a lot of mental strength the way I just kept fighting.’’

Higgo said his caddie, Austin Gaugert, “was yelling at me to get to the tee.’’

“I wouldn’t have been late if I knew I was running late,’’ Higgo said. “I was there at 7:18 (and) 30 seconds. I was there on time, but the rule is if you’re one second late, you’re late.’’

Higgo said “this is the first time it’s happened’’ to him, adding, “I was just happy they allowed me to tee off, firstly. I was bummed when he said I had a two-shot penalty. I just said to myself, ‘It’s going to be a great opportunity to shoot a low score.’ ’’

Higgo, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, climbed back into the round with a birdie on No. 3 and another on the par-5 ninth to make the turn at even-par 35.

After a bogey on No. 10, he rallied with birdies on Nos. 14 and 17 and made a nifty up-and-down, one-putt par-save on 18 to finish with the 69 and remain in contention.

After the round, Higgo spent an inordinate time in the scorer’s tent speaking to tournament officials to plead his case and protest the penalty.

“I was just trying to get evidence,’’ he said. “I feel like any of you (reporters) would have done the same.’’

He said he wasn’t surprised about the way he rebounded from the early calamity.

“I know my game is good enough,’’ Higgo said. “When I get hot, I’m dangerous. Obviously I’m trying to do that a bit more often. I believe that I can shoot good scores. I believe my putting is good enough. I think every part of my game is good enough to compete out here.’’

Higgo said his playing partners, Shaun Micheel and Michael Brennan, “actually argued my case for me.’’

“I was supposed to tee off last … and they hadn’t announced Shaun yet,’’ Higgo said. “I asked (Micheel and Brennan) if I bothered them for being late, and I said, ‘I apologize for that.’ But they said it was fine. I obviously don’t want to bother anybody.’’

Asked multiple times why he was late to leave the practice putting green, Higgo said, “If you know me, then you know I am very casual and laid back. I thought I had time. I was obviously too casual.’’

Higgo, ranked 85th in the world and playing in his eight career major championship and third PGA, has a 12:43 p.m. tee time on Friday at the 10th tee.

You’ve got to figure he’ll be there by 12:40 latest to be safe … and by the end of the tournament he doesn’t lose by a shot.