Page 49 - Golf World (February 2020)
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At the back end of 2019 the European Tour and PGA its ways, loathe to upset its members by making any
Tour both addressed the ongoing issue of slow play, kind of meaningful change. “We are not stuck in our
one proactively, the other with some reluctance. For ways,” denied PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
the 2020 season, the European Tour’s new four-point “We know that players all over the world are watching
plan will focus on regulation, education, innovation the best players in the world on the PGA Tour and the
and field sizes. Players will receive shot penalties more LPGA Tour, and they mimic their actions. And so, if
quickly, repeat offenders will be fined more there is an opportunity for us to make a positive
significantly, members educated on the rules and contribution to the game and continue to elevate our
known slow-pokes more aggressively targeted. “We product, that’s what we’re going to do.” Though very
arealreadyattheforefrontofpaceofplaymanagement thin on detail, Mr Monahan announced that
in the professional game,” said European Tour modifications to the PGA’s pace of play policy are
CEO Keith Pelley, arcing an eyebrow in the likely to come into effect in the second quarter of
PGA Tour’s direction. “But after being 2020. Tellingly, perhaps, his soundbites came a
mandated by our tournament committee few days after Brooks Koepka had called out
to be even firmer in dealing with this Bryson DeChambeau for his glacial pace of play
issue, the time was right to take these – an unsightly spat that reflected very poorly on
additional steps.” There have been those in charge. Change may not be swift, and it
suggestions that the PGA Tour is stuck in may be reluctant, but it feels like it’s finally coming.
From 2020, a The number of
player with two seconds allowed
bad times will have for players hitting
a stroke added to first – 70 seconds
their score. for those who
follow.
The penalty for 15 Field sizes will now
bad times in a be cut from 156 to
year, up from 144 where possible
previous £9,000. to more easily
police pace of play.
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