3-Time Major Winner Padraig Harrington Says This Tool Would Help With Pace of Play Issues

An under-the-radar change at PGA of America events over the past few years could make a big difference when it comes to pace of play in pro golf.

That’s according to three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, who just wrapped up playing back-to-back weeks in the PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship.

Since the 2021 PGA Championship, players have been allowed to use a range finder to measure distance.

The tools are prohibited on the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the other three men’s majors, but the PGA of America allowed them starting in 2021 in order to help improve the “flow of play.” Players are not allowed to use the slope feature to measure elevation.

Harrington, who lost the Senior PGA over the weekend to Steve Stricker in a playoff, is calling for range finders to be used in all events moving forward.

After using a range finder for the last 2 weeks @PGAChampionship and @seniorpgachamp, I’ve come round to believing that we should use them in all tournaments. They really help with pace of play when players are out of position with an awkward yardage. @DPWorldTour @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/QNwYB0uMfJ

— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) May 29, 2023

Thomas Bjorn, like Harrington, a former Ryder Cup captain, agrees with the Irish pro.

I agree with this 👇
I was sceptical but it works…@DPWorldTour @PGATOUR @RandA @USGA https://t.co/t57nPPX73o

— Thomas Bjørn (@thomasbjorngolf) May 30, 2023

While this rule was put in place in 2021, pace of play has been a larger issue since the final round of the Masters, when Brooks Koepka called out the group in front of him—presumably aimed at Patrick Cantlay—for slowing the pace to a crawl.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has weighed in but was not asked about the use of range finders.

Cover Image Via GOLF.com