Concerns Grow Over Lengthening Game Times in U.S. Men’s and Women’s Tours
Measures to Eradicate Slow Play to Be Announced on the 28th of Next Month
Stronger Penalties Planned, Shifting Focus from Fines to Stroke Penalties
PGA Considers Shot Clock and Public Disciplinary Actions for Violators
Professional sports are a race against time. As game time lengthens, audience interest inevitably wanes. To address this, Major League Baseball (MLB) has introduced various measures such as the pitch clock and extended tiebreakers. Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) also reduces game time through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS). Golf is no exception. Both the U.S. men's and women's tours are struggling with delays, and criticism of slow players is intensifying.
Charlie Hull argued that if a player is caught slow playing three times, their tour card should be revoked.
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour plans to strengthen penalties for slow play. On the 5th, a day before the Founders Cup, the first full-field tournament of the season, a players' meeting was held to discuss measures to eradicate slow play. At this meeting, the LPGA informed players that new regulations would be announced at the Ford Championship starting on the 28th of next month.
According to the current LPGA Tour pace-of-play rules, a fine is imposed if a player exceeds the allotted time by 1 to 30 seconds, and a two-stroke penalty is given if the excess is over 30 seconds. However, penalties will become stricter going forward. A fine will be imposed for exceeding the time by up to 5 seconds, a one-stroke penalty for 6 to 15 seconds, and a two-stroke penalty for over 16 seconds. The LPGA prepared this revision considering that stroke penalties are a more effective deterrent for players than fines.
Last year, 22 players on the LPGA Tour were fined for slow play, and 9 players received two-stroke penalties. Under the new regulations, 23 players would receive a one-stroke penalty, and 8 players would receive a two-stroke penalty. Charley Hull (England) strongly argued that "if slow play is detected three times, the tour card should be revoked," and Nelly Korda (USA) also supported the measure, calling it "absolutely necessary." Korda pointed out the problem with pace of play, saying, "Rounds that used to take less than 5 hours now take 5 hours and 30 minutes."
The Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour is also making various efforts to reduce slow play. They have established a ‘Signature Event’ featuring only top-ranked players and are reducing the number of participants in regular tournaments. Additionally, they are pursuing further measures such as introducing a shot clock and publicly disciplining slow players.
At the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open held on the 26th of last month, when delays became severe, commentator Dottie Pepper (USA) strongly criticized the slow play. She emphasized, "Slow play occurs due to a lack of consideration for fellow players, fans, and broadcasters," and stressed, "The pace of play must be increased for everyone's sake."
Veteran golfer Charley Hoffman (USA) also appealed in a letter to fellow players, saying, "There has been a lot of criticism recently due to slow play in tournaments," and urged, "All players must cooperate to speed up the pace of play."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
