The issue of slow play, which has long been a thorn in the side of the PGA Tour, is back in focus as the 2025 season kicks off. The concern was particularly heightened during the American Express and Farmers Insurance Open, events noted for their absence of high-profile players. This led to bouts of spectator frustration, as unknown players took their sweet time to execute shots, making the viewing experience less thrilling compared to when stars like Jordan Spieth are on the green.
The issue of slow play has been addressed by several players. Rory McIlroy, for example, proposed a reduction in the number of players, an idea that may not bode well with the majority. Lucas Glover, on the other hand, took a controversial stance, advocating for the ban of the aimpoint technique.
Aimpoint is a putt-reading method where players position their feet on either side of their line to gauge the amount of break they need to account for. Glover, the US Open champion of 2009, argued that the technique is not only time-consuming but also discourteous. He pointed out that players often have to navigate around the hole to get a comprehensive read on the break, which could be viewed as disrespectful.
This view is not universally accepted, though. Keegan Bradley, the US Ryder Cup captain, once predicted that the aimpoint approach would be widely adopted by upcoming players. Similarly, Byeong Hun An voiced his opinion on the matter, implying that banning aimpoint would hardly make a dent in the slow play issue. He shared his thoughts on Twitter, stating that while the technique may create spike marks around the hole, it doesn’t impact the pace of play for him and other players.
The PGA Tour has evidently been grappling with the slow play problem, initially placing their hopes on reducing the number of participants. However, with the implementation of changes slated for 2026, the golf community might have to endure a few more slow-paced months.
Recognizing this, the PGA Tour is now weighing various alternatives. The use of rangefinders could be permitted or average shot times could be published annually. Another suggestion has been to penalize slow players with strokes, considering financial fines might not deter those who are already raking in substantial incomes.
Nevertheless, it is clear that finding a universally acceptable solution within the tour might be a daunting task. But then again, the world of golf seems to be quite accustomed to handling such predicaments.