At last, slow play is being attacked in the pro game...

[duncan mackie]

I think this incident probably created more bad press than good press. The action in a semi final with only 2 groups on the course does not send out a good message when they have only ever handed out a handful of penalties in recent years. Is that really the only time they have ever had a issue ?

Until they have consistency in their actions these penalties will only be looked upon with such much scorn and scrutiny.

their actions are absolutley consistent - players get warned all the time, they get asked to speed up, they get put on the clock; what's different here is what happened next...the action of the player not the officials!

 

[Foxholer]

The issues I have with this are:

As in this case, apparently, the original cause of the slow play was not the one that got penalised.

and

While The Rules allow for penalties, it's up to 'The Committee' to decide what is slow and what sanctions may apply (and MAY is the word in The Rules).

There actually has been a 1 shot penalty applied, but I believe the current sanctions (EU and US) are a fine.

 

[Neddy]

Seems Pressel was unlucky that she happenned to be slower when they were on the clock. And I guess unlucky it was matchplay. Would like to think that if it was strokeplay they'd have both been given penalties.

Big picture though. If this sets a precedent and leads to a crackdown elsewhere then fantastic.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The PGA and European tours are businesses and in these hard(er) times if sponsors begin to pull out because final rounds overrunand they don't get their TV exposure or they don't want to be associated with a product in decline caused by slow play then everyone takes a hit. Less prize money on offer, less events and a damaged reputation that is hard to rebuild.

The answer to me is simple. Announce clearly what the proposal and criterial for handing out punishments are, set a start date of the first event for 2013 and make sure the player union on both tours spends the remainder of this season making sure members are left in no doubt that slow play is no longer going to be tolerated. Once a few names take a hit everyone will fall into line quickly. For me it can't happen to Kevin Na soon enough!

 

[sev112]

no no no no no
Youve all got it worng
Even the amateur psychologists know that you dont get the right behaviours by threatening punishments - speak to your teenagers and that will prove that !
What you need to do is to provide encouragement to play faster, rather than penalise them for playing slower.
Each referee has a stopwatch, and as soon as it's a player's turn to play they are timed from that point until they hit.
Add up the times at the end of the round, and anyone playing at a rate equivalent to a 4 hour 3ball round, gets 2 shots taken off their round.
I'm not sure the slow players would be happy to give 8 shots away over 4 days, and you'd get rid of a load of the slow players by the cut.

Alternatively, if you rally want to do punishments, set a nominal individual rate (as measured above) and anyone not meeting the time over the first 2 days doesnt get through the cut

 

[duncan mackie]

While The Rules allow for penalties, it's up to 'The Committee' to decide what is slow and what sanctions may apply (and MAY is the word in The Rules).

You have either misinterpreted the rule or are misrepresenting it here.

The committee may establish pop guidlines, they may modify the penalties applicable under 6-7 in line with note 1 ie they will be either a or b but known, as with the guidlines, and the players must comply.

As all Tours do, there are no relevant may's in the professional tour game here.

 

[bobmac]

The committee may establish pop guidlines, they may modify the penalties applicable under 6-7 in line with note 1 ie they will be either a or b but known, as with the guidlines, and the players must comply.

Anyone else lost?

 

[duncan mackie]

Anyone else lost?

Just read rule 6-7 Bob, it's not a long one and everything relevant is there.

Or was it the pop? - pace of play

 

[bobmac]

Never mind