The topic of slow play has probably been talked about more than any other issue on the PGA Tour since the start of the 2025 season.
Golf fans have grown tired of watching professionals take too long to hit a shot and spending well over four hours out on the course.
During The American Express in La Quinta, Sepp Straka’s final group took over three-and-a-half hours to complete 11 holes. And, at last month’s Farmers Insurance Open, legendary broadcaster Dottie Pepper slammed the pace of play.
The PGA Tour appears to have listened to complaints and is set to trial the use of rangefinders to speed up proceedings. In addition, harsher fines and public announcements of the slowest players have been proposed.
Collin Morikawa discusses PGA Tour fines
Speaking before this week’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, Collin Morikawa accepted that handing out fines is the way forward.
“With the aspect of the fans, I mean, I realize they’re complaining about slow play, but if you showed them more shots, I don’t think they would complain about the slow play, right? How would they know if it’s slow play or not if they’re seeing more shots in general in the window of the coverage? But it is an issue on the Tour. By no means is it something that should be looked over. It should be solved. Obviously you see what the LPGA’s doing. You need to start fining people,” Morikawa said.
“Look, if I got slapped on the wrist and got a fine like that, I absolutely would not want to be fined again. It’s just like the NBA, like the technicals, right? Some guys are OK with getting fined every week for teasing. If guys are OK getting technicals and getting penalties out here on Tour because they’re slow, so be it. Something needs to happen to say like — and no one wants to be that Guinea pig, that first guy to do it and to get it, but it has to start somewhere.”
LIV Golf and LPGA Tour set slow play example
The LPGA Tour appears to have learned from issues faced during the 2024 season. During The Annika, Nelly Korda was highly critical of the pace of play, and Charley Hull even pitched a radical idea to combat the issue.
There has been a clear improvement in the pace of play. Last weekend’s Founders Cup had an average round time of 3 hours 42 minutes, which is considerably faster than what’s been seen on the PGA Tour this year.
The LPGA Tour announced that players who take too long will receive two-shot penalties. The early signs suggest that the deterrent has worked.
LIV Golf has also set a good example. The first event in Riyadh had an average round time of 4hrs 24m. With the LPGA Tour and LIV paving the way, it’s time for the PGA Tour to actively clamp down on the issue.
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