Slow play is one of the number one topics of discussion in golf at the moment and it finally looks like the PGA Tour are considering some sort of preventative action.
The issue of slow play has lingered around golf for decades now and it seems quite mad that nothing seems to have improved or changed over the years.
Rory McIlroy has suggested smaller fields as a potential option to fix the issues but then that would be to the detriment of players maybe not quite at McIlroy’s level.
Furthermore, Lou Stagner has called for stroke penalties and more to improve things, which is a stance Charley Hull has backed in the past as well.
With pressure building following last weekend’s Farmers Insurance Open, where the final group got round in five and a half hours, it now looks like the PGA Tour are taking some sort of action.
Golf fans respond as PGA Tour ready to allow big change in bid to halt slow play
Taking to social media to share the news, golf journalist Dan Rappaport has reported that the TOUR are considering allowing the use of ‘distance-measuring devices’ during competition.
Naturally, the suggestion has caught the attention of golf fans all over social media platform X and there’s been plenty having their say.
One fan suggested that the decision was ‘Only about 10 years late‘, with another fan agreeing and calling it a ‘no-brainer’ decision.
‘Biggest no brainer in the history of earth. Even if it just helps by 5-10 minutes a round….seems crazy that PGA Tour hasn’t embraced this technology, but has everything else that has to do with club and ball manufacturing.’
The comments on being happy with the proposed changes continued.
“Yes. It’s obscene that this hasn’t been done sooner” another golf watcher added, with another fan agreeing, adding:
“Should’ve been done a long time ago…”
Another, though, claimed that LIV Golf had shown the way with their use.
“They work fine on LIV Golf. Stops that ridiculous pacing..”
While Tiger Woods’ former coach Hank Haney agreed with the solution but also called for shot penalties.
Although for balance, another popular voice in golf, Smylie Kaufman, questioned whether it might add another step to the process.
“It could speed up play for some but I wonder if it adds another step into getting the correct yardage. Caddies/players aren’t going to stop walking off yardages”
While another supporter suggested that getting yardages isn’t the issue and it is the players instead with their routines.
“Getting the yardage isn’t what causes slow play. The failure of the players to be ready when it’s their turn simply by processing yardage, club, and wind while their playing partner is hitting, and extraordinarily long routines are the problem.”
PGA Tour told the problem it faces with enforcing shot clock
With Smylie Kaufman among those to comment on the topic of distance finders, he’s also spoke about slow play this week and had questions on suggestions of shot clocks.
Kaufman had his say on shot clock penalties and believes the TOUR will struggle to enforce them.
“How the heck do you enforce a shot clock? You’re going to have a volunteer walking with every group keeping score, and now this volunteer who maybe they started or stopped the clock at the wrong time, now we’re dealing with the most ridiculous set of rules ever,” he said.
“Players, they just need to start being penalised. Every shot matters at the end of the week, two strokes, players will start speeding up. They always do before they get onto the clock. But at some point, you’re going to have to start penalising guys.
“It’s just impossible, it really is. A shot clock, yes, it makes sense. But it’s hard to execute that.”
Quite whether the introducing range finders and similar tech will help, remains to be seen.
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