PGA Tour set to REDUCE penalties for slow play

The PGA Tour is proposing reducing the penalties dished out for slow play.

First reported by Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, the US-based circuit’s Rules Committee is recommending a raft of changes to the Pace of Play Policy.

These include reducing the fine structure of ‘Bad Times’ from $50,000 to $10,000, in addition to reducing ‘Excessive Shot Times’ fines from $10,000 to $5,000.

Additionally, players will no longer be subject to fines solely as a result of ‘Timings’, ‘Bad Times’ and ‘Excessive Shot Times’ during the majors, with an amendment to the definition of ‘Out Of Position’ to recognise that, if a group is on a par-3 and the group in front is still on the tee of the next hole, they are in good position.

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The recommendations are part of a wider group of proposals that will go before the PGA Tour’s Policy Board next month.

If approved, they will be enforced from the start of the 2026 season.

A memo obtained by Carpenter states: “The Rules Committee has conducted a thorough review of the Pace of Play Policy and proposed adjustments to ensure the new policy aligns with those of majors and the DP World Tour, and also takes into account new data and statistics.”

The same memo states that the Rules Committee “continues to evaluate the Pace of Play data”, which has “accurately identified the slowest players following the creation of the new Average Stroke Time (AST) policy.

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It is being proposed to raise the fine for ten ASTs from $20,000 to $50,000.

The committee has also concluded that more needs to be done to provide the slowest players with an “immediate incentive” to play more quickly.

They are, therefore, proposing the introduction of an ‘Excessive Average Time Stroke Time’.

At the conclusion of a tournament, if a player has an Average Stroke Time of 12 seconds or more above the field average and played in all four rounds, they will be hit with an Excessive Average Stroke Time penalty.

The first two sanctions will not be accompanied by a fine, but the third will cost them $50,000 followed by $10,000 per subsequent offence.

Let us know your thoughts on these proposed changes. Email [email protected] or reach out to us on X, @bunkeredgolf

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content