PGA Tour to mention the fastest, slower pro, but will it improve the pace of the game?

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla – – Annual Address of Commissioner of PGA Tour Jay Monahan in Championship did not give any visible overview of the true state of the tour attempt to Make an agreement with the Saudi Arabian public investment fund (PIF) and reunite golf.

Monahan asked the question after questioning about negotiations with the same line, providing little details when or if golf fans can expect the game to come back together.

But while PIF talks seem to be colliding, PGA Tour is Attempting to speed up things In the course after the tournament Rhythm as the snail became a hot topic At the beginning of this season.

On Tuesday, Monahan announced that the PGA Tour will focus on improving the pace of the game by implementing and experimenting with several different tactics recommended by the tourist group of tournaments. The group made these recommendations in accordance with PGA Tour Fan Forward initiativewhich identified four areas for the tournament to focus as it appears to improve its product.

Later this year, the tournament will publish statistics related to the speed of the game, including the names of the fastest and slowest players.

“Looking at the average shock time, this is not – this is not done so from the point of view of negativity,” Monahan said on Tuesday. “There is also a really positive element for this. They are celebrating players who are playing faster and improving, and at the same time, giving players information that should be able to improve in the eyes and not only how they are competing but also in the eyes of our fans. So I see this as a very positive development. “

Shotlink data give the exact shock time in tours for each player. The tournament has had this information, but now it is finally ready to make it public with its players purchases, whether they are on the fast or slow side.

“Undoubtedly it is,” Justin Thomas said on Tuesday when asked if he would be in favor of issuing stroke data. “If we put it in the closet room or put it – no one wants to be known as it. I am the first to admit that I am on the slow side of the players. It bothers me, but I talked to many officials about it. I want to know why I’m slow because, of course, the first thing every slower player thinks is that they are not slow.

“I never want to be the boy who is paired with someone, and that person is like, oh, my gosh, I have to play with Justin. He’s so slow. Because I know guys who am paired with what I am like, oh, my Lord, I have to play there and so. They are so slow. It’s not a good feeling because you will be in the hour, you know.”

Collin Morikawa has long been a supporter of the issuance of names (call that rhythm of avoidance) and taking the tour to hit the worst offenders, where it hurts more.

“I think it should be released; I don’t know why you wouldn’t want it to be released,” Morikawa said on Tuesday. “I think you just have to start hitting boys and giving guys current penalties, whether kick or FedExcup. What I learned is that monetary fines are useless. We earn so much money, and some boys can honestly care less – don’t know how much fines are, but whatever X amount they are. That they do, you know, 70, 50, 30. This is where it hits hard.

“I see no problem with him. I think what is there to hide, right? If you are slow, you know you are slow. I mean, if you don’t know, then there is a problem. For me, there is no problem with letting it or not. It will only do things better because then you will either have a target on you, you will put a little more pressure and hope you will catch them, or penalize. As, it’s very simple. ”

It is not yet clear how or when the PGA Tour will implement the data, but this marks a significant change in tour policy as it begins to take steps towards fixing a problem that has a simple solution: Identify the worst offenders and penalize them on the outcomes card.

“I think there is a real commitment from players across the table to make sure we are doing everything we can to improve, and these three steps are just a start,” Monahan said. “It is easy to identify the problem. It is a little harder to find the solution, only given the depth and width of everything that goes to the pace of the game. But we are committed to finding the right solutions and making progress on that front. “

Starting in April, PGA Tour will use Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas to experiment with a new “Play Speed” policy that will include shock players that violate slow rules. The tournament will also experiment with the use of string finders in six tours between Masters and PGA Championship.

By linking the issue of the rhythm of the game with the fan initiative ahead and agreeing to publish data, the tournament is drawing a line in the sand for its rhythm problem and vows to take things in motion.

This is a positive step forward to fix an issue that should not take a fans study to resolve, but it is progress. However, still unclear is how serious and effective the tournament will be and whether recommendations will lead or not to change the tournament players will retire.

Like almost everything in Pro Golf these days, there is no time limit for a conclusion.

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