Slow play, or should we call it the ultimate golf buzz𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁? Well, whatever you want to call it I’m sure we’ve all been there, waiting for your favorite player who stuck behind a group that’s moving at a snail’s pace, watching as the excitement and energy of the game slowly drains away. And it’s not just fans who are fed up, the pros are speaking out too. Take LPGA player Charley Hull, who recently sounded off about the glacial pace at The Annika event. “It’s ridiculous and I feel sorry for the fans how slow it is out there,” Hull said, still shaking her head after a round that lasted a mind-numbing five hours and 40 minutes.

via Imago

In the latest YouTube video on The Smylie Kauffman show, Rickie Fowler recently spilled the beans on what it’s like to play with a Shot Clock in TGL, the new golf league that’s got everyone buzzing. And let’s be real, the Shot Clock is kind of a big deal – it’s a 40-second timer that keeps players on their toes. So, does it feel rushed? Not according to Fowler. “When it’s before it’s your turn, you know whether it’s in the first nine holes when it’s alternate shot…typically it’s not directly like straight into your shot,” he explained. Plus, he thinks the pace of play is crucial for keeping things entertaining. “It partly needs to because of, you know, the entertainment side of it and not having just dead time.”

USA Today via Reuters

Fowler’s comments give us a sneak peek into what pro golfers really think about the pace of play in TGL. But the real tea is that Tiger Woods is supposedly taking slow play very seriously. We don’t know much yet, but one thing’s for sure, Woods is really taking this whole pace of play seriously and well, it doesn’t come off as a surprise.

Tiger Woods is not a fan of slow play

Tiger Woods has long been vocal about his frustration with slow play in golf. In 2019, he expressed his exasperation, saying, “We’ve been fighting that [slow play] for, God, ever since I grew up watching the game.” Woods had previously suggested imposing strict penalties, including stroke penalties, to curb slow play, emphasizing that “strokes [are] money.”

Now, with TGL, Woods is taking concrete steps to address the issue. The league’s adoption of the 40-second shot clock is a direct reflection of Woods’ desire for a faster-paced game. And it seems to have the support of players like Matt Fitzpatrick, who’s part of TGL’s New York Golf Club. When asked about the shot clock, Fitzpatrick replied, “I think that’s good for us.” The English golfer’s positive response suggests that players are open to innovative solutions to tackle slow play. With TGL, Woods is putting his vision for a faster-paced game into action.