PGA TOUR: Slow Play Changes MIGHT be Coming to the TOUR

Slow play is always something on the minds of many golfers. Who hasn’t gone out for a round of golf, stood at the tee box and just waited. Then waited to hit their second shot. Then waited for their third and so on. Slow play is a major problem for players of all skill sets. This isn’t limited to just amateurs. Even pros have made comments about it. Brooks Koepka was quoted back in January saying “I just don’t understand how it takes a minute and 20 seconds, or a minute and 15 to hit a golf ball — it’s not that hard.”

But how can they get it to change? There is a penalty for slow play but it’s rarely enforced. At least it was until this weekend at the Women’s U.S. Open when amateur Andrea Lee, a 20-year-old amateur from Stanford was hit with a slow play penalty. After taking three hours to play her front 9, it’s not surprising Lee was hit with the penalty.  

I love hearing they are giving penalties out for slow play. This is literally the only way to get girls moving. Money does nothing!

— Brittany Lincicome (@Brittany1golf) June 2, 2019

“She had a bad time and she was given a warning. She should’ve figured it out,” said David Fay, the former USGA executive director, on the TV broadcast.

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Lee is the second ranked amateur in the world and is not eligible to collect any winnings. When she signed for a 79 with the penalty, it didn’t hit her wallet at all but the penalty still stings a little.

The LPGA isn’t the only pro tour with a slow play controversy. Bryson’s slow play came under fire again this week. A group featuring Bryson, Tiger and Justin Rose received a warning regarding their slow play. “The time to hurry is in between shots” DeChambeau said after the opening round.

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Complaining about slow play is something that will never go away unless something changes. Limitations on time spent looking for lost balls and good cart etiquette are things amateurs can do to help with this problem. The only thing that will help on tour is actually enforcing the slow play rule. I’m not counting on that to happen with any regularity so it’s just something we all need to deal with.

Cover Image Via Instagram