When you talk to serious golfers, they will often tell you that the most annoying part of the game is having a slow golfer in front of them.
Golf is already a relatively slow game.
Therefore when some golfers take more time than necessary, it tends to get everyone pretty frustrated.
Although you would think that the skill level on the PGA Tour would keep the slow play from being an issue, this is not always the case.
There are quite a few golfers on the PGA Tour that take more time than necessary to play a hole.
If you are curious about who these players are and what the PGA Tour is doing about it, we have all the answers you need.
Who Is The Slowest Player On The PGA Tour?
The slowest player currently on the PGA Tour is JB Holmes.
However, in the past, Ben Crane led the way regarding slow play, but Crane does not play in as many events as he once did, which is why he no longer tops this chart.
JB Holmes is a great player, but he happens to take a long time to make a decision and to actually pull the trigger on hitting a golf ball.
Bryson DeChambeau is another player that has had some slow play issues in the past.
Bryson is often called “the scientist” because of the way he approaches a round of golf.
Unfortunately, some of his advanced-level thinking about the shots he wants to hit impacts the pace of play.
Players find that playing with Bryson can be a bit extreme as far as slow play is concerned, and they have to keep the pace of play moving along on their own.
The PGA Tour has noticed these issues with slow play in the past, so they came up with some rules to help encourage faster play on the PGA Tour.
Does The PGA Have Slow Play Rules?
The PGA Tour has always had slow play rules in effect, but they only recently started getting very strict about these rules and the impact they have on players.
Essentially, if you are going to be a slow play problem, the PGA is now going to call you out on it.
The basic rule states that when it is your turn to play, you should take no more than 40 seconds to play.
Of course, if there is a bee that flies across or a spectator says something in your backswing, you can reset the clock.
The 40 seconds is when there are no interferences or distractions.
When you think about it, 40 seconds is plenty of time, and most players do not have any issue completing in this time.
Players are also encouraged to start planning out their shot and their yardages before it is their turn.
This way, when it comes time to swing, the player has the club in hand and is ready to go.
Since professional golfers have caddies, the walking and the club carrying do not tend to slow them down.
The issues that lead to slow play typically come down to decision-making.
It takes a long time for some players to make decisions, and this is because of how much they have resting on a win.
Not only will a win provide a great sum of money, but it can also lead to exemptions to future tournaments.
The PGA Tour slow play rules are a good thing because it does happen that some golfers take too long to make decisions, slowing down the game for everyone.
How Long Does A Round Of Golf Take For PGA Tour Players?
An average round of golf on the PGA Tour takes about four hours and thirty minutes.
This is surprising to some people who are accustomed to playing golf in about four hours.
On the PGA Tour, they typically only play in twosomes or threesomes, so the amount of time it takes to play a round of golf is even more surprising.
Overall, golf should not take nearly as long as it does, but for many PGA Tour players, the championships and the money on the line will slow down their game immensely.
If you notice, many times when golf comes on television, the players have already been through the first few holes.
This is done to make sure that the broadcast doesn’t last too long, as the rounds of golf can take quite a bit of time.
Most players all move around at the same pace, so the slow golfers will stand out.
Some of the best players of all time, like Tiger Woods, are quite quick.
These players have a routine, they stick to it, and they are out there to get their job done.
Why Do Professional Golfers Take So Long To Hit A Golf Ball?
Professional golfers have a lot of money and fame on the line when they play golf, and this can slow down their pace of play.
Some amateur golfers like to play fast golf.
If a wide-open golf course is in front of you, it can be enjoyable to get in a round of golf in less than four hours.
However, for professional golfers, even those that like to play slightly faster, the 3-hour round is out of the question.
There are some good reasons why professional golfers take so long to hit a golf ball, but the biggest is the mental game.
The more time you spend playing the game of golf, the more you realize how mental it is.
The players that can handle the mental side of the game will have the best chance of winning a tournament.
Those that struggle with it will end up having a hard time pulling off the win.
Professional golfers need to focus on the shot they are about to hit and think about how it needs to be executed.
They take into account all of the factors like weather, wind, pin placement, their strengths that day, and quite a bit more.
When millions of dollars are on the line, you might also take a bit longer to take your shot.
Can The Pace Of Play Impact Your Golf Game?
The pace of play can be a major factor in how well you play.
It is unfortunate, but when you have a slow group in front of you, it can make it difficult to focus on your game and concentrate.
This is why the PGA Tour put into place these restrictions that force players to keep moving along.
In addition, some of the theory on the mental game and golf course tournament prep has changed through the years.
Many years ago, players would incorporate much more feel into their games, and today it’s more of a stats game.
The numbers and angles and discussions can take a long time, and golfers end up struggling to get the hole finished in the proper amount of time.
How Can I Speed Up My Pace Of Play?
The pace of play can be sped up by using technology, being more aware, and practicing a routine.
When a PGA Tour player is told that they are too slow and that a penalty could be coming their way, they may need to speed up the pace of play.
This can be hard for a golfer who has a set routine and is very particular about what they do on the golf course.
The first place that most professionals look to speed up their pace is on the putting green.
PGA Tour putting takes considerably longer than amateur golf putting.
If this doesn’t prove to all of us that putting is the most critical part of the golf game then nothing will!
Here are a few ways to work on speeding up your pace of play and ensuring that you can keep up with any group you play with.
1. Purchase A Distance Measuring Device
Gogogo Sport Vpro Laser Rangefinder for Golf & Hunting Range Finder Distance Measuring with High-Precision Flag Pole Locking Vibration Function Slope Mode Continuous Scan (GS24)
A distance measuring device like a golf GPS or rangefinder can help you speed up your pace of play on the course.
The distance measuring devices make it, so players no longer need to pace their yardages.
Simply standing in place and getting a number to the pin will help you see your number and be able to quickly pick a club.
Choose something rather simple if you want quick and accurate yardage.
A rangefinder takes just a few seconds to use and gives you accurate numbers you can trust.
2. Develop A Pre-Shot Routine
A pre-shot routine is often mistaken as something that increases the pace of play instead of decreasing it.
However, this is not the case.
Having a pre-shot routine will ensure that you hit your ball within the recommended time limit.
Without this pre-shot routine, some players will take six or seven practice swings.
This is not necessary at all, and it makes much more sense for golfers to take one or at the most two practice swings before they hit a shot.
The pre-shot routine forces you to spend a limited amount of time preparing to hit instead of an unidentified period of time.
3. Watch Your Golf Ball
We totally understand how frustrating it is to hit slice after slice off the tee box.
However, to play fast, you must keep a close eye on your golf ball.
By watching it closely, you can easily see where it lands and be able to get to it in a matter of minutes.
So much time is wasted on the golf course searching for a golf ball.
If you don’t know where your golf ball is, the time it takes to find it will increase your pace of play to be unfair to other players.
Simply watch the golf ball and then mark it with a tree or shrub nearby, so you know exactly where to look.
4. Play Ready Golf
Most players don’t need to worry about who had the lowest score on the previous hole.
Simply play your shot when you are ready and when the opportunity allows.
Playing honors golf is much better for players that are in a match, but ready golf is the best to keep the pace of play moving along.
There are quite a few instances on the golf course where it can feel like time is being wasted, but with ready golf, it should not feel that way.
Conclusion
We hope you now have a better understanding of who the slowest players on the PGA Tour are.
Slow play is, without a doubt, a problem, and something that the PGA Tour is looking to correct.
As players get better and better, golf seems to take more time.
However, there is a reasonable amount of time that a round of golf should be played in.
If amateurs are held to this time limit on the golf course, professionals should be as well.
The next time you are called out by your friends for slower play, make sure to follow our tips and see if it helps to speed things up.
Playing faster golf will not make you a poor player; you just have to learn how to do it.
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