[Golf Rules... Knowledge Is Power] Breaking the 40-Second Rule

Meronk Penalized for Slow Play at LIV Golf Jeddah
Players Required to Play Each Shot Within 40 Seconds
Warning for First Offense, One-Stroke Penalty for Second Violation

Golf is a sport without referees. It is known as a "gentleman's sport," where golfers are expected to follow the rules themselves as they play. Golf rules are designed as "assistants" to help players during the game. If you understand them well and use them appropriately, they can greatly help you manage your score. These are golf rules that weekend golfers must know.

Adrian Meronk

Adrian Meronk (Poland), a LIV Golf member, lost a large sum of money-over 300 million won-due to slow play. In the final round of the LIV Golf Jeddah event, which concluded on March 3, he received a penalty for slow play, causing his ranking to drop from a tie for 5th place to a tie for 6th. Had he finished in a tie for 5th, he would have received $750,000, but instead, he had to settle for the 6th-place prize of $508,750. As a result, he lost $241,250 (about 320 million won).

The LIV Golf rules committee determined that Meronk violated the pace-of-play regulation, which requires a shot to be played within 40 seconds. He took over two minutes for his second shot on the 18th hole (par 5). Due to a one-stroke penalty on this hole, his score changed from a birdie to a par. Meronk became the second player to receive a penalty for slow play since the launch of LIV Golf. Last year, Richard Bland (England) was also penalized for slow play.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have identified slow play as a key reason for golf's declining popularity. To "speed up" the game, they have introduced various measures, including a rule that every shot must be played within 40 seconds. The timing reference point is crucial: if the previous group has already cleared the hole and there are no distractions from the gallery or adverse weather, the player must make the stroke within 40 seconds from that moment.

The rules committee issues a warning for the first slow play violation. On the second offense, a one-stroke penalty is applied. The R&A and USGA recommend "ready golf." Traditionally, golf follows the "farther ball plays first" principle, where the player farthest from the hole plays first. However, if safety is ensured, shots can be played out of order. Even in match play, where order is important, "ready golf" can be requested. This is a method to increase the pace of play.