While the Miami Open, the Strawberry Festival, the Ultra Music Festival, and the seafood feasts all contribute to the vibrant atmosphere of March in Florida, the real star of the show is The Players Championship. Amidst the excitement, however, a gnawing issue continues to agitate players and fans alike – slow play. This sentiment echoes particularly true for the 2021 Players Champion, Justin Thomas.
Having experienced the shot clock system implemented by TGL, Thomas is not convinced of its potential to significantly influence the pace of play on the PGA Tour. While he conceded that such changes could shave a minimal 12 to 20 minutes off a round, he firmly believes this is insufficient.
During a press conference preceding the first round, the topic of slow play inevitably emerged. Thomas, ranked ninth in the world, openly admitted to being on the slower side of the player spectrum. He expressed his concern about being perceived as a slow player by his peers and lamented the pressure that comes with being “on the clock.”
This sentiment is echoed by his fellow golfer, Ludvig Aberg, who voiced a similar dislike for being the one who holds up the game. Thomas’ prior criticism was directed towards Tom Kim, who he predicted would most likely violate TGL’s shot clock rules. Kim’s sluggish performance, particularly highlighted in his final round at the AT&T, has made him a target of ridicule. However, Kim has acknowledged his slow pace, attributing it to certain mental struggles he has been combating.
In a promising development, PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan, recently announced plans to publish “speed-of-play-related statistics.” This initiative, which will cover both fast and slow players, aims to address the issue of slow play without any underlying malice. The efficacy of this approach, however, remains to be seen.
Slow play is not a new issue, but it is one that has garnered increasing attention over recent years. The problem is not confined to smaller tournaments; it is also prevalent in major events such as the 2023 Masters Tournament, where players like Brooks Koepka were left frustrated by unnecessary delays.
Notably, Collin Morikawa, during The Players Championship press conference, took a more assertive stance. He advocated for the implementation of penalties, such as the deduction of strokes or FedExCup points, for slow players. He dismissed monetary fines as ineffective, given the high earning potentials of players. Morikawa also expressed a willingness to face criticism if he were found to be among the slow players.
The slow play dilemma seems to irk fast players more than it does fans. How do you feel about it? As the PGA Tour grapples with this issue, we can only wait and watch how these new initiatives pan out.
