The new rule based at Augusta National is aimed at slow play

Bobby Jones, the legendary amateur and Augusta National co-founder, not only played golf well – he also played the game fast. There was little worry or second-guessing when Jones went over a shot. Slide it in, maybe a quick flick and let it rip. Ditto for the greens, where he believed examining shots from multiple angles was unnecessary if not counterproductive.

A century or so after Jones’ peak, his penchant for a blistering pace is alive and well at the club he helped found – or, at least, in the club’s visionary chairman, Fred Ridleyhas defended the cause. Look no further than Ridley’s State of the Union comments at the Masters a year ago. In the weeks leading up to the 2025 tournament, the slow pace on the PGA Tour had become so offensive that CBS Golf reporter Dottie Pepper he called into the air.

Pepper’s criticism sparked much heated debate on the subject, prompting Ridley to say in written comments to the press: “The subject of pace of play is at the forefront of the mind. Playing without undue delay, as dictated by the rules and traditions of the game, is an essential golf skill at all levels. Knowing the pace of challenges, I also believe, is an important element of each week’s challenges, an important element of the examination of professional play. the best players in the world.

“Golf is a special game because it requires us to be considerate while also being competitive. Respecting other people’s time, including, most importantly, the fans who support the game, is a basic courtesy. Therefore, I want to encourage continued dialogue on this topic, especially at the professional levels that serve as the most visible representation of our sport.”

But Ridley’s concern extended beyond the professional game and even the elite amateur and college games to the youth ranks. This became apparent when he was asked to reflect on a young golfer who had used the timing AimPoint green reading technique — which has become a household name in the pro game — in the finals of the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals. (Actually, there were several players who used the technique, but a reporter asked Ridley about one in particular.)

“I noticed exactly what you did,” Ridley said. “It’s interesting, but every stage of the competition has the same chip length and the same putt length, so you don’t have to speed it up. They know how many yards they are. But that’s what they were doing anyway. I think it’s safe to assume that next year in Drive, Chip & Putt you’ll see some kind of time limit placed on the competition.”

Ridley wasn’t bluffing.

On Tuesday, the DC&P, which is run jointly by the Masters, the USGA and the PGA of America, announced a new rule — essentially, one hour of shots — that will be in place at the event’s finals at Augusta National in April.

At that stage of the competition, each of the 80 finalists hit just six shots a piece (two drives, two chips, two putts) so you can understand why they’re in full grind mode. Still, to alleviate some of the delay, the event is introducing a “pace of play bonus” whereby competitors will earn half a bonus point for every shot they make in 40 seconds or less, meaning players who land all six of their shots in the allotted time will earn a total of three bonus points. “This initiative is intended to reinforce pace of play as an essential skill in golf,” according to a release announcing the new rule.

Here, according to official rulesHere’s how the pace will be monitored:

The First Shot

The second shot

Scoring procedure

Sensitive? We think so! Now if only we could get the pros on the move because, after all, the stars of tomorrow are following suit. As Ridley said last year, “These young people are looking to their heroes who play the game every week for a living on how to approach competitive play.”

If DC&P’s new rule is effective, perhaps this formula should be turned on its head.