Ian Poulter has become the latest golfer to weigh in on the slow play debate that is currently overshadowing the action on the course.
LPGA Tour duo Nelly Korda and Charley Hull criticised slow play at The ANNIKA, which the former went on to win to clinch her seventh title of the season.
And Tiger Woods wants slow players to lose shots almost instantly, having shared his thoughts on the issue all the way back in 2012.
It is certainly not a new issue, although slow play is, of course, a problem caused only by a small number of players.
Their pace of play does, however, have a major impact on every player, along with those tuning in either at the event or from home.
Ian Poulter suggests the ‘only way’ golf can stop slow play
It is certainly an issue for three-time PGA Tour winner Poulter, who defected to LIV Golf in 2022 and is currently co-captain of Majesticks GC.
“This has been an ongoing conversation for not just the last couple of years but it has always been an issue,” he told Matt Vincenzi. “When you have 54 guys in a field, play will generally move a bit quicker. When you have fields of 70 plus in limited field events and full fields at 130 up to 156, it is going to slow down.
“We all know there are various players within the game of golf who frustrate other players and rules officials because they take an unfair amount of time to hit their shot.
“It’s one of those that fining players is probably the only way to do it aggressively and fairly enough but again it comes down to having the staff available to actually watch every shot and evaluate every shot and punish people on the spot, but it’s difficult to have a referee in every single group so a lot of things get missed.
“Because of that we have slow players and it’s frustrating for the viewer and some of the players who aren’t slow.”
How can the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour combat slow play?
Slow play is undoubtedly a real issue across both the men’s and women’s games, with a quick solution needed ahead of the 2025 season.
Fortunately the powers that be on the likes of the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour now have time in the off-season to do exactly that.
READ MORE: What the LPGA is now going to do after Charley Hull and Nelly Korda’s complaints about slow play
Fines, stroke penalties and reduced field sizes are perhaps the obvious routes to consider, but whether the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour actually take action remains to be seen.
The issue of slow play certainly won’t go away anytime soon, but listening to the players is undoubtedly where to start when it comes to a potential solution.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
