It was pleasing to hear the PGA Tour set their sights on tackling the issue of slow play after such a frustrating start to the season.
Many may have suspected that the PGA Tour would opt to avoid making any changes following a raft of complaints from fans about the opening few events of the year. The 2026 season will see fields reduced at most events, while the number of players who automatically keep their cards each year will also drop.
But fans criticised The American Express after the final round took nearly six hours. Meanwhile, there was similar frustration during the finale of the Farmers Insurance Open.
However, the PGA Tour is indeed looking to make changes before next year. Some fans will be reserving judgement until they see the changes which will be made, but one of the options being considered is the release of the times each player takes on average over their shots.
Collin Morikawa comments on slow play issues on the PGA Tour
While that could potentially have little impact on each player, it seems that some players are in favour of the worst offenders being named and shamed.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Players Championship, Collin Morikawa was asked about the timings being made public, and he suggested that it makes a lot of sense – though he did issue a warning to the viewers hoping to see drastic improvements.
“I think it should be released, I don’t know why you wouldn’t want it released, and I think after talking with some guys, I think you just have to start stroking guys and giving guys actual penalties, whether it be strokes or FedEx Cup. What I’ve learned is that monetary fines are useless,” he said.
“We make so much money and some guys frankly could care less about – I don’t know how much the fines are – whatever X amount they are. I think they care more about playing good golf and making sure they make the playoffs and making sure they make 70, 50, 30. That’s where it hits hard. And I see no issue with it. I think what is there to hide? If you’re slow, you know you’re slow. If you don’t know, then there’s an issue.
“To me, there’s no issue with letting it out, right. It’s only going to make things better, because you’re going to have a target on you, put a little more pressure and hopefully you pick it up, or you get penalised. It’s very simple. But I think the fans need to realise that slow play is not going to fix; if we pick up 10 minutes for pace of play this week, the fans won’t realise that at all – like zero. That’s not the issue with watching golf.”
The problem the PGA Tour faces in battle to tackle pace of play issues
The problem is that there are definitely times where the game benefits from players taking their time. It can be absolutely captivating on a Sunday when those in contention coming down the stretch are being methodical.
With that, it is going to be difficult for the PGA Tour to introduce one rule which speeds up play and allows for those moments where the action needs to breath.
It would have been ridiculous had either Rory McIlroy or Bryson DeChambeau had to think about pace of play on Sunday at the US Open. That was a day most fans could have happily watched for even longer.
But changes do need to be made, and it is positive to see players on board with some of the options being considered.
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