PGA Tour must address its slow-play problem | Golf Channel Podcast

In this week's edition, the guys discuss all the happenings at Torrey Pines, debate the slow-play epidemic on the PGA Tour, and preview Scottie Scheffler's return at Pebble Beach. #GolfChannel #Golf #pgatour

Chapters:
(00:00) - Hello and welcome!
(02:00) - Harris English claims Tour win No. 5 at Torrey Pines
(06:00) - Is Torrey a stout test or a bore?
(10:00) - Pace of play continues to dominate Tour events/broadcasts
(15:00) - What to make of Farmers' Saturday finish, weak field, spot on the schedule
(22:00) - Ludvig Aberg, two amateurs turn heads at Torrey -- for different reasons
(27:00) - Scottie and Spieth return at Pebble
(33:00) - The debut of "Love It or Lav It"!
(41:00) - Quick hits: St. Andrews return, Tiger/Rory TGL, PGA is anti-rollback
(47:00) - Listener questions

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PGA Tour must address its slow-play problem | Golf Channel Podcast

[golfbbqandwatches]

New stat… Strokes Gained: Pace of Play. PGAT officials have to start calling out the repeat offenders for slow play. DPWT has been better at it for a while, but might have relaxed a bit recently. Stroke penalties will hurry them up. Maybe it’s time a specific model of range finder was allowed in tournament play. Slow play on tour doesn’t help us at the club level, weekend rounds blowing out to 5 hours is rubbish.
Appreciate the shout out in the #asklav segment. Keep up the quality content!

[paulpattyn]

There should be a shot clock. Range finders should be legal.

[Adrian-zwsc]

As far as the 'Love it or Lav it' segment ...
mmm, I liked it👍

But unlike you guys, I'm actually more intrigued to see the upcoming season of Full Swing rather than the upcoming season of TGL.

[edwardcreighton]

LAV IT! Rex's Beef's! -8 winning, love it!

Slow play, LAV IT!

Rick Shiels going to LIV, LAV IT!

This pod, Love It!

[michaellawrence]

The reason amateur rounds take 4 hours is because they spend a lot more time looking for their balls and take an extra 30 strokes.

Professionals who rarely hit bad shots never have to look for balls should be able to finish 18 holes on 3 hours .

[DatDenDude]

Some reasons TGL can finish under 2 hours

1) 15 holes
2) no walking between shots & holes
3) they can hit a shot in 40 seconds cause they have the number literally written in front of them. There’s no figuring anything out.

I’m not against a shot clock, but it’s hard for me to say, just because a virtual product can take two hours, it will translate well to the course

[johntumino]

Love or hate LIV, the best part about it is that with a shotgun start you know it'll be a 4 hour round and can tune in with 9 holes to play, see all the players and watch entertaining golf in 2 hours time.

[lauriemorgan]

WHY does the PGA continue to have a signature event at Pebble Beach in WINTER !

[solotx]

Players and caddies having full on Lincoln Douglas debates before every shot doesn't help matters.

[Isaac-qein]

Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Matthew Fitzpatrick are star names that come to mind as being more inconsistent than a Hideki Matsuyama.
Plus when Hideki struggles, it often seems to be due to an ailing back injury.

[robertott]

That is part of the appeal of golf, different courses allowed varied outcomes. -35 one week and -8 the next...

[josephboza]

Harris English winning was a great win this week. For the first time since 2016 when Sneds won at -6, the winning score didnt break -10. I agree with Lav, I think this was a unique circumstance for why the field wasnt good, a lot of them didnt want to get beat up by the South Course twice in 3 weeks. This course was probably the hardest it played since Sneds won it at -6 and they had to finish on Monday. I dont think Farmer Insurance should move, its a case where a lot of the media think this tournament will only survive if the superstars (like 20 of them) show up. We had a great story with Sam Stevens. He was -4 thru 12 (-7 overall) when CBS started. He dunked his ball on the 2nd shot at 18. If he didnt he could have won if not forced a playoff. I checked Harris went from 23rd to 5th in the Ryder Cup standings. If he can keep up this good play he should be on the team as a wildcard if not auto lock for Keegan. I think it will be interesting to see how Scottie and Jordan do. I hope the media tempers down expectations for Scottie. He came off a hot 2024. Winning 7 times 9 overall. I would expect some rust if not some issues holding the club. He was working out with a brace on his hand he injured making ravoli, picture on X. Thanks for answering my question guys. I was asking what if more superstars like Scottie and Jordan committed to TGL. I think Billy was joking in his interview with Marty Smith but I think said producer Jeff was pissed. I would love to see the ratings for those that started a match but didnt finished it. Last weeks match I finished thru the 12th hole. Atlanta won 4-0. I wouldnt call it a blowout. It wasnt bad. They got 682K. I think the goal is 700-750K. 919 for match 1 was curiousity. Tiger playing in week 2 brings the viewers hence 1 million. No Tiger No Rory 682K. Match 4 viewership will be interesting since its Monday at 630PM/330PM

[acbower]

The issue is that you have huge fields on mainland USA in January…people, it gets dark at 545 in the afternoon, that’s a lot of players to get through.

Now add 45 MPH winds, US Open length rough, rock hard greens and have them roll at 12.5 and split tees and you have a recipe for disaster…

I mean you can’t penalize anyone for slow play because they aren’t ever out of position…and furthermore, the slow play talk dies every year because when 2somes start on the first, the 5 hour rounds go away.

[josephboza]

#AskLav Shane Bacon who is a CBS Sports Golf Analyst was on CBS Sports hq after Harris English won and was asked what changes he would like to see for Torrey Pines ahead of Genesis he said he would like to cut the rough down. What changes if any do Rex and Lav want to see to Torrey Pines ahead of Genesis?

[innovativeprogramschool]

The caddies should just handle the clubs. Let the Pros figure out their own shots.Too much discussion before every shot

[garys]

Thank you Ms. Pepper.. I can walk all 7 muini's in my city, dragging my bag and taking 90 strokes and can finished 18 is less than 4 hours. If I can play at a rate of 15 minutes a hole, why not a Find you ball, address your ball, hit your ball and get out of the way.

[annewasson]

like the suggestion of having slow play being an official statistic and the associated public humiliation. Also would like to see the slow play statistic become a tie breaker for every finishing position with exception to 1st, that would get their attention.

[valdez]

Slow play? This is horrendously 👎🏼

Changes need to be made NOW. Broadcasts suck when you can watch a movie during a round, get a workout in & still think this damn broadcast is long as heck.

🐌 pace is ridiculous 👎🏼

[bishopd]

Gentlemen, while I agree there is a slow-play problem, being 65 I remember the enjoyment of watching a Frank Chirkinian produced golf event on TV where he set the pace by switching to “action” somewhere else on the course!

There are more cameras on the course now so to some extent, isn’t it the laziness of the producer and the behind the scenes people that can be changed and make the TV production better? While some of the player/caddie banter is awesome, I would rather see almost any shot to see the action continue.

Just a thought since I don’t spend 20-30 seconds in a putting stance.

[kowanmcgarry]

If the Genesis invitational goes to Torrey pines, what happens to the farmers insurance open, do they remove it or change golf courses.