“It’s cheating!” – Paige Spiranac demands slow play action

Add Paige Spiranac to the growing list of people who’ve had enough with slow play in golf.  

The tour-pro-turned-influencer has called on the powers-that-be to take action against golfers who take more than the allotted time to hit their shots.  

The issue has exploded again in recent weeks following incidents at The Masters and RBC Heritage with Patrick Cantlay. 

The world No.4 was roundly condemned on social media for his ponderous pace, particularly at The Masters. Going out in the penultimate group, Cantlay’s pace appeared to aggravate playing partner Viktor Hovland and forced Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka in the group behind to wait on almost every tee box.  

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Spiranac was amongst those watching. 

“Honestly, I’ve seen paint dry faster than that round was finished,” she said. “I’m not going to call out just one individual because I do think this is a larger problem and the rebuttal is always ‘but they’re playing for majors and lots of money so they should take their time’. 

“Look at any other sport. They’re not just going to extend the time because they’re playing for a championship.

“Can you imagine if Michael Jordan was just dribbling away and they’re like, ‘It’s okay guys, this is for a championship and a whole lot of money, just give him some time.’” 

Pace of play is governed by Rule 5.6b, which explains that “each player should recognise that their pace of play is likely to affect how long it will take other players to play their rounds, including both those in the player’s own group and those in following group”. 

It adds that, when it is a player’s turn to play, it is “recommended that they make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds after they are (or should be) able to play without interference or distraction” and “the player should usually be able to play more quickly than that and is encouraged to do so.” 

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Despite that, however, pace of play penalties are rare. John Catlin was docked a shot during the opening round of the US PGA Championship in 2021. More famously, Chinese 14-year-old Tianlang Guan was given the same sanction during the 2013 Masters.  

Spiranac believes it’s time for the tours to start getting tough with their more glacial performers.  

“A golfer has 40 seconds to hit their shot and if they don’t do so in the allotted time, they should be penalised,” she said. “Slow play is unsportsmanlike and a form of cheating. I don’t understand how this is not fixed yet. It’s easy. Penalise them if they don’t hit in 40 seconds. That’s it.”