Jay Monahan‘s PGA Tour has once again shaken things up sparking concerns regarding the new rule changes. The PGA Tour’s recent suspension of the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open due to strong winds has only added fuel to the fire, with fans accusing the tour of catering too much to low scores and birdie-friendly conditions.

This backlash isn’t new—criticism has been brewing for some time, as many viewers believe the tour prioritizes entertainment over true competitive grit. LIV Golf, on the other hand, has flipped the script. Its success was probably the result of meeting new-age expectations like no-cut events, guaranteed payouts, and a more aggressive playing style. As the two tours continue to go toe-to-toe, Jay Monahan has started to tighten the ropes between tradition and evolution. But what is it and can it really help?

PGA rewriting a few rules to target pace

The PGA Tour remains open to global feedback, but its impact is up for debate. Slow play has been a recurring concern, with a web of reasons and divided opinions keeping the “conversation” alive. Jay Monahan has looked into some of these concerns and the official body has drawn a few additions to what they believe will deliver the needed.

We could soon see matches with players using rangefinders to possibly speed up club selection, fields where every competitor’s “average stroke time” is out in the open, and where fines on the greens are no longer a well-kept secret. To top it off, rulings could soon be decided in real-time with video reviews from the Tour’s Florida studio. The question remains—will these changes finally keep the game moving, or will slow play continue to drag its feet?

New rules from PGA stir the pot

“I recognize that people are going to call me a hypocrite,” Jay Monahan said ahead of the 2023 Canadian Open, speaking candidly about the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger. Despite this and other efforts, slow play has remained a persistent headache for the PGA Tour. Its implementation could probably be a better speaker for this but fans are already spilling their perspective.

Viewers are losing patience as penalties and shot clocks remain long overdue on the PGA Tour. In the comment section, Steve Flesch, the PGA Tour Champions Pro pointed out something interesting on the rangefinders. He wrote, “We have been using range finders for over a year on the Champions Tour now. They significantly help when you’re way off the fairway and don’t save or add any significant time. Having said that, the snails don’t change unless they are pushed. Period! Penalty shots are the ONLY answer.”

A supporter stressed the penalty situation. “Very simple in the end, ask Adrian Meronk and Richard Bland on LIV. Penalties work,” he said. Others are deeming shot clocks as the apt measure. While the Tour aims to speed up play, dilemma persists among fans. The pressure’s on for the Tour to hit the sweet spot!