Go easy on NA

[iacas]

I think any hissy fit was partially due to the fact that the penalty was called on a 14 year old kid. Fair or not, there was the appearance that justice wasn't being meted out evenly and that the same penalty would not have been called on a bigger name in a similar scenario.

You could easily make the case that if they wanted to penalize someone, they'd have definitely NOT penalized a kid who was somewhat of a sensation. Penalize some regular pro who is gonna miss the cut or something. You know?

I don't know whether there is any truth to that critique or not, since I never saw any objective analysis of how much time Guanlang (sp?) was taking over each shot compared to other players. But I do agree that there is always blowback when the penalty is called. Several years ago, I believe a penalty was called on Tiger and Paddy during the final round of a tournament. After the group had the clock put on them, Harrington went on to double bogey the next hole. Even though it worked to his advantage, I recall Woods criticizing the penalty as unnecessary.

IIRC, he was pretty darn slow. :)

If I was in charge of slow play penalties, there'd probably be 50 strokes handed out the first week alone. That number would go down quickly… and not because I'd change my policies. :)

[jamo]

I think any hissy fit was partially due to the fact that the penalty was called on a 14 year old kid. Fair or not, there was the appearance that justice wasn't being meted out evenly and that the same penalty would not have been called on a bigger name in a similar scenario. I don't know whether there is any truth to that critique or not, since I never saw any objective analysis of how much time Guanlang (sp?) was taking over each shot compared to other players. But I do agree that there is always blowback when the penalty is called. Several years ago, I believe a penalty was called on Tiger and Paddy during the final round of a tournament. After the group had the clock put on them, Harrington went on to double bogey the next hole. Even though it worked to his advantage, I recall Woods criticizing the penalty as unnecessary.

I said it a dozen times last year, but he deserved the penalty and then some. He was woefully slow. Some of that, I'm sure, was due to the language barrier with his caddy, but most of it clearly (from watching the featured grouping stream the day he was penalized) was not. I'd like to see more slow play penalties doled out, but if anyone that week deserved one, it was the kid.

[saevel25]

I said it a dozen times last year, but he deserved the penalty and then some. He was woefully slow.

Some of that, I'm sure, was due to the language barrier with his caddy, but most of it clearly (from watching the featured grouping stream the day he was penalized) was not.

I'd like to see more slow play penalties doled out, but it anyone that week deserved one, it was the kid.

I agree 100%. I don't care if he has an OCD thing going on. The pace of golf is absurd right now. Get it fixed or suffer the penalties. If it is costing him paychecks, he might actually go and get that fixed. Heck Sergio stopped regripping the club 20 times.

[albatross]

No one mentioned this guy in the thread?  He makes Kevin Na look like Speedy Gonzalez.

http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2014/3/31/5567174/andrew-loupe-slow-play

[dhicks33]

When I was watching Valero last week I didnt think Loupe was that slow. I also think that slow players almost have an advantage as they have more time to calm down from a bad shot or a bad ruling (kegan bradley having to play the ball from behind the tent/tree yesterday with no sightline). Slower play can make for better shots which kind of evens it out in my opinion. 2 good shots vs 4 poor shots were you walk and change clubs between every shot seems like a better option.

[albatross]

When I was watching Valero last week I didnt think Loupe was that slow. I also think that slow players almost have an advantage as they have more time to calm down from a bad shot or a bad ruling (kegan bradley having to play the ball from behind the tent/tree yesterday with no sightline). Slower play can make for better shots which kind of evens it out in my opinion. 2 good shots vs 4 poor shots were you walk and change clubs between every shot seems like a better option.

This isn't a matter of opinion.  He's timed. On a clock.  It's fact. He's a slow player.  Look it up.  If you watched last week, how did you not hear all of the talk about how deliberate and slow he is?  The announcers brought it up no less than 10 times on Sunday.

[saevel25]

This isn't a matter of opinion.  He's timed. On a clock.  It's fact. He's a slow player.  Look it up.  If you watched last week, how did you not hear all of the talk about how deliberate and slow he is?  The announcers brought it up no less than 10 times on Sunday.

I wouldn't put much credence in the announcers. They are latching on talking points. Slow play is a talking point. I think the announcers should latch on to other players who are slow, just not Na. I think Na gets ripped because of his swing antics.

I agree, that he is on the clock, and if he gets hit with a penalty than so be it. I think they need to do something to speed up play.

[albatross]

I wouldn't put much credence in the announcers. They are latching on talking points. Slow play is a talking point. I think the announcers should latch on to other players who are slow, just not Na. I think Na gets ripped because of his swing antics.

I agree, that he is on the clock, and if he gets hit with a penalty than so be it. I think they need to do something to speed up play.

Everything an announcer says is a "talking point."  That's what they are there to do. Talk.   And it was helpful for them to point out when he was being put on the clock, and how long he was taking on shots because that's something we wouldn't see without them talking about it.  I thought this was a pretty good article about Loupe's slow play, and slow play in general:

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/valero-texas-open-andrew-loupe-and-golfs-slow-play-problem

[ChrisP]

The problem is when someone actually has the balls to penalize a player (like the one last year at the Masters you mentioned), people have a hissy fit about it. :(

The USGA doesn't run The Masters. Augusta National runs the Masters.

But they use USGA rules when it comes to penalizing and rules infractions. And I agree.....people have a hissy fit about it (particularly because the guy missed the cut by one shot), but they have to get over it. It's about what's best for the game, not what's best for a player's "feelings."