Slow Play Overtakes Tour

Filed in archive Golf Wanderings on March 5, 2008

Woods and Furyk Cooling Their Heels. Courtesy: Rutland Herald

The subject of slow play is suddenly on everybody's lips.

All it took was for Tiger Woods to mention it on his website and it seems like everyone is talking about "those slow players on Tour".

Like, this is new?



Associated Press golf writer, Doug Ferguson gathered some comment from various players, some accused of slow play and some who do the accusing.

The one conclusion we can draw is that slow play is a problem. At times. And when it is an issue, nothing much seems to happen.

Recall Rory Sabbatini during the final round of the 2005 Booz Allen Classic stomping way ahead of his playing partner and part-time snail, Ben Crane, up to the green where he slumped against his bag waiting for Crane to hit his approach.

Not very polite but that's Rory. And many players were probably silently applauding him.

Professional golf is a very deliberate game, akin in many ways to championship billiard tournaments.

J.B. Holmes, the guy who likely sparked Tiger's comments after the two were paired up at the World Golf Championships has a point when he says "You're playing for $1 million. If somebody thinks I'm slow, or taking long, I don't care. Personally, I don't want to take that long. I'm working on that. I would rather be slow and win than rush something, hit a bad shot and not win."

Who could argue with him?

Right now, the Tour will warn the first time, issue a one-stroke penalty the second time and a two-stroke penalty the third time. If a player is stupid enough to be warned a fourth time in a round, he's disqualified.

But it's never happened. In fact, it's been years since a one-stroke penalty was assessed.

The solution? Rather than penalize slow play, reward fast play. If a group finishes ahead of the theoretical time, throw 'em some FedEx Cup points or tack an extra $5 grand on their pay checks.

Heck, the Tour's all about money these days, anyway.