Quick Comment on Slow Play
Posted July 21st, 2005 by Erik J. Barzeski
Ben Crane takes all day to shoot a 62… but it's because of a weather delay, not slow play. Or was it?
Slow play on the PGA Tour has gotten so bad that I read the following and chuckled out loud:
Ben Crane posted an 8-under 62 Thursday to lead the U.S. Bank Championship, though it took him all day to do it…
The quote of course continues:
…as two separate weather delays totaling about five hours turned the day into a miserable marathon that fewer than half the field finished.
Ben Crane, of course, was the recent subject of some inappropriate actions by Rory Sabbatini. That I immediately thought "slow play" and not "weather delay" demonstrates just how big an issue slow play has become on the PGA Tour, even if it still remains somewhat comical.
Expect a longer entry on slow play from us soon. For now, I'll simply ask this: what are your thoughts on the pace of play on the PGA Tour? Five hour rounds are not uncommon, and that's for threesomes and twosomes.
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Posted 22 Jul 2005 at 2:59pm #
I'm not sure how the best golfers in the world can take so long. I would think efficiency would be one of the hallmarks of a good player. Certainly things could be sped up in the interest of television and public interest at the very least. It suprises me pro rounds take so long.
Posted 25 Jul 2005 at 9:46am #
Ben Crane took only four hours to shoot a 1-under 69 to capture his second PGA Tour victory, the US Bank Championship.
Posted 25 Jul 2005 at 8:43pm #
This can easily be solved by PGA officials enforcing some sort of time limit. Putting a two-some "on the clock" doesn't mean nothing if they don't start giving stroke penalties. Penalize the slow players a few times and they'll speed up.
Posted 25 Jul 2005 at 10:26pm #
They have just such a penalty, Justin. Fines ($) and strokes.