Pro demands slow play ‘consequences’ on PGA Tour

Camilo Villegas has argued that players should face ‘consequences’ for slow play on the PGA Tour.

The five-time winner, who served as chairman of the Player Advisory Council last year and is set to become a player director on the Tour board, wants the circuit to clamp down on the issue for good.

Ahead of the Sony Open, Villegas, 42, pointed to several 156-player field Korn Ferry Tour events that he contested last season.

He recalled teeing off in the first group on Thursday and being forced to wait behind two groups at the turn.

“I’d go into player dining, order an omelette, send (KFT president) Alex Baldwin a picture and say I’m eating breakfast at the turn,” Villegas said.

“She’d send an emoji with hands on head.

“With a 156-man field we can’t enforce pace of play. In 2026, when that is not the case, we need to enforce it.

“One of the questions I asked is, how many guys are averaging above time on their shots?”

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Slow play has been a bone of contention in the game for years but, according to players, is only getting worse.

And that’s why Villegas has had enough, calling for players to be shamed.

“The way I see it, those guys are breaking the rules,” he said. “There needs to be consequences.

“I think their names should be posted in the locker room in font 30, and Michael Kim brought this up a little while back, their caddie should wear a fluorescent orange bib. Make them feel bad.

“That’s not the way this game should be played. The Tour’s never going to do that. I wish they did.

“We had the balls to do the changes last year so maybe we do have the balls to enforce pace of play a little better.”

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Villegas has assured that his time on the board won’t be wasted this year, as the PGA Tour welcomes wholesale changes ahead of 2026.

He attended the last board meeting in November and is ready to voice his concerns.

“Obviously some of the people sitting in this board meeting are members of many other boards and businesspeople, and they’re very involved with sports and different leagues,” he said.

“And I’m really looking forward to learning from them, and I’m really looking forward to just kind of giving my honest feedback, opinion, and adding my two cents.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.