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The PGA Tour is reportedly set to trial the use of distance measuring devices (DMDs) during competitive rounds as it steps up its fight against slow play.
According to tour insider Dan Rapaport, the test will form “one of a number of initiatives to try to speed up play”.
The move follows widespread discussion about the amount of time rounds are taking, even at this early stage of the 2025 season.
Things reached a crescendo during last week’s Farmers Insurance Open, where former major champion Dottie Pepper used the television broadcast to call upon the PGA Tour’s slow pokes to show some “respect” to their fellow players.
“It’s just got to get better,” the fed up on-course commentator said after it took Harris English, Andrew Novak and Aldrich Potgieter almost three hours to play nine holes during Saturday’s final round.
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Asked for his take on the issue ahead of this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Rory McIlroy suggested that smaller fields could solve the issue but admitted “that takes away playing opportunities from people and that’s going to p*** some people off.”
The Irishman added: “There’s a lot of different answers, but not every answer is going to make everyone happy.”
The tour is yet to comment publicly on the prospect allowing players to use DMDs but responding to Rapaport’s post on X (formerly Twitter), it seems opinion is divided about what effect the devices would have.
Tour pro turned commentator Smylie Kaufman wrote: “It could speed up play for some but I wonder if it adds another step into getting the correct yardage. Caddies/players aren’t going to stop walking off yardages.”
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Former Byron Nelson Classic champion Robert Damron – now an analyst for the Golf Channel – replied: “Crazy. It slows play down.”
Using DMDs in competition is not without precedent. In 2021, the PGA of America, announced a policy change allowing their use in all of the events under its auspices, including the PGA Championship, Women’s PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship.
At the time, the organisation explained that the decision had been taken with a view to combatting slow play.
“We’re always interested in methods that may help improve the flow of play during our championships,” said PGA of America president Jim Richerson at the time.
“The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf. Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”
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