PGA Tour reveals pace of play overhaul (including three huge changes)

As part of a huge overhaul to tackle golf’s slow play problem, the PGA Tour will publish average shot time data which could expose the serial offenders. 

Speaking at The PLAYERS on Tuesday, commissioner Jay Monahan announced a three-pronged approach to address the perennial issue that has dominated the start of the 2025 season.

That will include testing a new pace of play policy on the Korn Ferry Tour and the minor PGA Tour Americas circuit, which will include stroke penalties for violating rules.

Plans are also in place to release individual speed of play statistics, which the PGA Tour has long kept but never disclosed. It has been suggested that releasing such data could act as a deterrent for the PGA Tour plodders.

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The US circuit also announced it will begin experimenting with rangefinders.

“We’ve committed to addressing the speed of play,” Monahan told reporters at Sawgrass. “To that end, I’m excited to formally announce these recommendations from our player-led speed-of-play working group: We will begin publishing speed-of-play-related statistics later this season.

“We will also begin testing a new speed-of-play policy on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas, beginning next month on April 14th specifically, which will include assessing penalty strokes for slow play.

We will be testing range finders at the six Tour events between the Masters and PGA Championship. We’re excited to learn more about the impact of increased transparency and accountability through these efforts.”

Among the players happy with these developments will be Collin Morikawa.

Barely two hours before Monahan stepped into the media centre for his annual address at Sawgrass, the two-time major champion called for data on average shot times to be revealed.

“I think it should be released,” he said. “I don’t know why you wouldn’t want it to be released. After talking to some guys, I think you just have to start stroking guys and giving guys actual penalties, whether it be strokes or FedEx Cup. What I’ve learned is that monetary fines are useless.

“We make so much money, and some guys frankly could care less about – I don’t know how much the fines are, but whatever X amount they are, and I think they care more about playing good golf and making sure they make the [FedEx Cup] playoffs and making sure they make, you know, 70, 50, 30. That’s where it hits hard.

“What is there to hide, right? If you’re slow, you know you’re slow. I mean, if you don’t know, then there’s an issue. To me, there’s no issue with letting it out, right. It’s only going to make things better because then you’re either going to have a target on you, put a little more pressure and hopefully you pick it up, or you get penalized. Like it’s very simple.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.