PGA Tour likely to implement fines to fix slow passage of play problem after Dottie Pepper’s OUTBURST at Farmers Insurance Open

The PGA Tour is reported to be working on fixing the slow play issue during the events after Dottie Pepper raised the issue once again.

PGA Tour likely to implement fines to fix slow passage of play problem after Dottie Pepper’s OUTBURST at Farmers Insurance Open

Dottie Pepper (Image via Golf.com)

One of the biggest problems in golf at the moment is the slow passage of play. Recently, commentator Dottie Pepper had a strong reaction to the slow play at the Farmers Insurance Open and raised the topic regarding this issue. The PGA Tour is now reportedly working on this matter and is likely to implement fines on this.

At the Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines course, Pepper was working as an analyst and commentator. The final group of Harry English, Andrew Novak, and Aldrich Potgieter took almost three hours to complete the first nine holes. They would eventually wrap up the round in around 5 hours and 29 minutes.

YouTube video

As the players teed for the 10th hole, Pepper spoke with her colleague Frank Nobilo and claimed that the golfers need to have “respect” for everyone else.

FS Video

You know, Frank, I think we’re starting to need a new word to talk about this pace of play issue, and it’s respect. For your fellow competitors, for the fans, for broadcasts, for all of it. It’s just gotta get better.

Dottie Pepper said

This slow passage of play issue has been going on for a while. The tour is now reported to implement fines and take some other measures. One of the proposed changes includes allowing the usage of Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs).

Another change that the tour is thinking of introducing is “average stroke time”. This data would show the average amount of time a player takes to hit a shot on the course. The PGA Tour could also disclose the fines and penalties of players for transparency.

RELATED
Rory McIlroy compares Tiger Woods’ INTENSITY with majors vs. TGL matches, relishing play with ‘one of your heroes’
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy [Image Credit- CNN]

Rory McIlroy suggests complicated fix for the slow play issue at PGA Tour

The slow play issue has once again become the trending topic in golf at the moment. In the press conference before the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Rory McIlroy was asked about this. The 35-year-old golfer provided a complicated fix to this.

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy (Image via Imago)

At first the golfer claimed that he had “no idea” how to fix this ongoing problem. He though later suggest a complicated fix which he admitted would p*ss of some people.

I could say smaller fields. Smaller fields, smaller fields would help pace of play, but that takes away playing opportunities from people, and that’s going to piss some people off. 

Rory McIlroy said at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am press conference

One thing that has been discussed regarding this is the usage of shot clock like the TGL does. In the TGL, a player has to hit the shot within 40 seconds. If the player fails to do so, they are assessed with a stroke penalty.

Co-founder Tiger Woods became the first player to be hit with this penalty during the fourth match of the TGL. However, implementation of such a shot clock is unlikely at the moment on the tour.

RELATED
Rory McIlroy claims ‘diminished’ PGA Tour should scale back events ahead of 2025 Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Rory McIlroy

It now remains to be seen what the tour decides to do regarding this issue. For now, they will turn their attention to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the second signature event of the year. Unlike the other events, this tournament will have a limited field with no cuts.