PGA TOUR to Start Testing New Pace of Play Strategies – Here’s When

The PGA TOUR will start testing new pace of play strategies that will accelerate the speed of rounds of golf, making things better for both fans and players alike.

Pace of play has been one of the biggest issues on the PGA TOUR for the past few years, and now, the TOUR is aiming to speed things up as fans, media, and players have all complained.

In February, we reported on the TOUR’s plans to use various strategies to speed up play. These included everything from the use of rangefinders to penalties being assessed to those who are playing below the suggested pace of play:

PGA TOUR Releases Four-Step Plan to Fight Slow Pace of Play

Now, the PGA TOUR has released some information on what strategies it plans to employ for the pace of play issue it has identified. It will first test these steps on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas to see if things help.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said the TOUR would be allowing players to use rangefinders, a major development that would expedite the decision making golfers and their caddies make in determining the proper club for each shot.

The testing of rangefinders will take place during the tournaments between The Masters and the PGA Championship.

Additionally, the TOUR plans to begin penalizing players who take too long, which is the best strategy. Groups being put on the clock was one piece of this, but now the TOUR is going to start pushing more harsh sanctions of players who do not keep up with the speed of play.

Pace of play data will also be published, allowing everyone to see who is taking the longest to take strokes in tournaments.

Cover Image via ESPN