by The PGA Tour may not be able to conclude an agreement to unify the professional golf course, but there is, finally, progress on another key problem for spectators: the slowdown in the game. Expressing before the players’ championship, the touring commissioner, Jay Monahan, revealed the imminent arrival of new sanctions which could include the denomination and the shame of delinquents.
The double major champion Collin Morikawa had already clearly indicated that the current rhythm of play of the PGA Tour – which sometimes sees sometimes golfers condemned to a fine – is unfit for the objective. “I think you only have to start caressing the guys and giving guys real penalties, whether be shots or fedexcup [points]”Said Morikawa. “What I learned is that the monetary fines are useless. We earn so much money and some guys don’t care. »»
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Monahan, who had previously rejected the widespread meaning that the slowdown in the game was a problem that deserves to be resolved, took note. “We are committed to approaching the speed of the game,” said the commissioner. “To this end, I am delighted to officially announce these recommendations from our game speed working group led by players. We will start to publish statistics related to the speed of play later this season. We will also start testing a new game speed policy on the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour Americas, from next month, which will include the evaluation of the penalty for the slow game. »»
Strangely, Monahan would not be tackling directly whether those punished would have their names shared with the public. However, it is understood that the same plan is under study. Monahan added: “It did not do it from the point of view of negativity; There is also a really positive element for that. They celebrate players who play faster and improve, and at the same time, players have the information they need to be able to improve not only how they are in competition but also in the eyes of our fans.
“So I consider this as a very positive development and I think it is quite revealing that when you have six players who sit on our advice and that you have 16 members of our advisory advice from players that there are many head tremors and there is an understanding that it is an area where we have to improve and we are determined to do so.”
Justin Thomas thinks that publishing the names of slow players in the locker room would be enough. “It would obviously end up leaving,” said Thomas. “No one wants to be known like that. I am the first to admit that I mean that I am the slowest of the players. It bothers me. I have spoken to many officials, I want to know why I am slow because, obviously, the first thing that any slowest player thinks is that they are not slow. “”
