EarthGolf

Slow play is becoming a serious problem - but one that nobody wants to deal with. At the top of the list setting the example are professionals - some of whose plodding has become beyond absurd. Take, for example, Sean O’Hair’s marking, remarking, remarking, adjust, remark, adjust, read putt, adjust, remark strategy he employed on Sunday causing his group to fall more than two holes behind. Of course the tour will never penalize for slow play - just warn. (Especially since Mickelson was in the final pairing - apparently O’Hair was really taking advantage of Mickelson’s immunity deal he has with the PGA Tour.)

One band-aid solution that the Tour is looking at is revising its cut procedure to remove more players from weekend competition. The idea was kicked around at the Player Advisory Council and will be taken up by the Tour’s Policy Board on the 28th of May. The ideas for the change to the current rule, which is top 70 and ties, are:

• Top 60 players and ties.
• Top 65 players and ties.
• The nearest number to 70 players.
• Top 70 and ties, but if the number goes over 78, revert to nearest to 70.
• Top 70 and ties make the cut on Friday, and another cut on Saturday for top 70 and ties.

The Tour needs to set a better example and actually dock strokes. It won’t take but a couple of infractions, and consistent application of the policy, to speed up play across the board.

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