PGA Tour Announces Big Changes for 2025 to Alleviate Slow Play

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2025 Jordan Spieth Slow Play Clock
Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the 1st tee near the Rolex clock during Day Four of the 149th The Open Championship at Royal St. Georges GC on July 18, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Keyur Khamar for PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

In a bold move to tackle one of golf’s most persistent gripes, the PGA Tour announced significant changes aimed at speeding up play in 2025. For years, fans and players alike had voiced frustration over rounds stretching well beyond the five-hour mark, a scenario that seemed to be turning some away from the sport.

The PGA Tour, recognizing the urgency, has introduced several innovative solutions:

  1. Use of Distance-Measuring Devices (Rangefinders):
    • Trial Events: The PGA Tour plans to test the use of rangefinders at specific events, potentially starting with the Zurich Classic in April 2025. This trial aims to assess if quicker yardage readings can speed up play.
    • Objective: By allowing players to use rangefinders, the time spent calculating distances for each shot could be significantly reduced, thus potentially speeding up the overall pace of the game.
  2. Publicizing Pace-of-Play Data:
    • Average Stroke Time (AST): The PGA Tour will disclose each player’s average time to take a stroke using ShotLink data. This data will be publicized to apply pressure on slower players to speed up.
    • Transparency: The decision to make this information public stems from feedback from fans and players who desire more accountability and transparency regarding pace of play.
  3. Disclosure of Fines and Penalties:
    • Fines for Slow Play: The Tour is considering making fines for slow play public, moving away from its traditional secrecy around such penalties. This could serve as a deterrent for slow players, especially those who might be more concerned with their public image than with financial penalties.
    • Penalty Structure: While specifics on fine amounts were not detailed, the intent is clear to escalate penalties for repeat offenders or those with egregiously slow play habits.
  4. Video Review for Faster Rulings:
    • New Video Review Center: The PGA Tour has established a video review center at PGA Tour Studios to make rulings on the course quicker. This would help in reducing the time taken for decisions, especially in complex situations where players might otherwise spend significant time debating with officials.
    • Implementation: This system would be used during live tournaments to give immediate feedback, reducing wait times that contribute to slow play.
  5. Field Size Reduction:
    • Smaller Fields: Starting in 2026, the PGA Tour plans to reduce field sizes across events. This change is expected to lessen course congestion, making it easier for groups to keep pace.
    • Impact on Pace: Smaller fields mean larger intervals between tee times, which should help prevent groups from falling out of position. It also makes it easier to monitor pace of play without groups being bunched up.
  6. Observation List and Excessive Shot Times:
    • Observation List: While not a new concept, the list has been refined. Players who take an average of 45 seconds or more per shot are monitored more closely. If they exceed 60 seconds per shot, they’re individually timed, which could lead to penalties.
    • Excessive Shot Times: The policy defines an “Excessive Shot Time” as taking more than two minutes to hit a shot without a good reason. Two such violations in a tournament now result in a one-stroke penalty, rather than per round.
  7. Changes to Timing and Penalties:
    • Timing Changes: The policy now allows 40 seconds for a shot, with an additional 10 seconds if you’re the first to play in certain situations. However, excessive times are now tracked over the entire tournament, not just per round.
    • Penalty Escalation: After a warning, a one-stroke penalty is applied for the second bad time in a tournament, with further penalties for each additional violation. Fines have also been recalibrated, with significant penalties for accumulating multiple infractions over a season.
2025 Scottie Scheffler Slow Play Clock
Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the 17th tee in front of the Rolex clock during the continuation of the final round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 22, 2024 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Keyur Khamar for PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

These detailed rules reflect the PGA Tour’s multifaceted approach to tackling slow play, combining technology, transparency, and stricter enforcement to ensure that golf remains engaging and watchable for its audience.

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