PGA TOUR Commentator Shocks with Truth Bomb on Golf’s Biggest Problem

A PGA TOUR commentator shocked everyone when she dropped a truth bomb regarding golf’s biggest problem.

Dottie Pepper is one of CBS’s biggest commentators and most well-known voices. One thing fans have always appreciated from Pepper is her blunt nature and ability to break down the biggest shots in golf, giving tremendous color to the TV viewers at home.

That trend continued this past weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open when Pepper got extremely transparent about the biggest issue in golf, not only for the players but also the fans, as things continue to trend in the wrong direction in terms of viewership.

Pepper called out the pace of play on the PGA TOUR, as winner Harris English averaged 18 minutes per hole over the course of the round. It took English and playing partner Andrew Novak over three hours to complete the front nine, with their full round ending up going for five hours and twenty-nine minutes in total.

For reference, most public courses require a foursome to finish in four hours and fifteen minutes.

Pepper said during the round that the PGA TOUR’s problem could be summed up in a single word:

“I think we’re starting to need a new word to talk about this pace of play issue, and it’s respect. For your fellow competitors, for the fans, for broadcasts, for all of it. It’s just got to get better.”

.@Dottie_pepper PREACH 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/BebcTDyHP7

— Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) January 25, 2025

It is evident that some players take more time than others, as players like Patrick Cantlay and Ludvig Åberg are polar opposites in this respect. Cantlay has been criticized for his lack of enthusiasm out on the course in terms of pace, while Åberg plays at a blistering speed without much of a practice routine. He is an ideal playing partner. 

However, the length of an 18-hole round is getting to be quite ridiculous, and it does spell out a lack of respect for everyone involved in the game. Understandably, some things need more thought than others, but when a nine-hole stretch takes almost as much time as it does to drive 180 miles, you’re looking at a serious problem the game has currently.

Pepper’s summation truly characterizes the lack of awareness some players have in the game today. Golf has become less entertaining with each passing year due to the length it takes for professional players to complete a round. It is great to spend all day out on the course with your friends, but it needs to be within reason. With millions of dollars on the line, there still needs to be some sort of standard, and this has been lost with some players.

This is perhaps something that many fans will not want to hear, but LIV Golf may have it right with its shotgun format, which decreases the amount of time it takes to complete a round and eliminates any possibility of rounds being delayed and continued the next day for those with later tee times.

Cover Image via Golf Digest