“We’ve committed to addressing the speed of play,” Jay Monahan said after various allegations on slow play. PGA Tour, after multiple events, including the Sentry and the American Express, saw a drop in viewership due to the long hours of play. Even the LPGA has recently shared about the new policy updates to make changes for the long overdue issue.

Recently, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, LPGA Players President, shared about the new policy. She said on the No Laying Up podcast, “We believe that the threat of a penalty versus a fine—the fine was not moving the needle, it wasn’t changing the behavior of our members.” Now, the PGA Tour has taken the LPGA’s  initiative ahead.

Ahead of the Players, the commissioner has shared about the new update being in place. However, it will take place for the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour Americas. He said, “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.” Similar to the LPGA Tour, which assessed the whole 2024 season, adding fines for the player taking extra time, the PGA Tour will test the waters with the smaller tours.

But the fact of the matter is, the initiative isn’t what the fans are accepting. As per the recent update shared by Dan Rapaport on X. The post read, “Jay Monahan says PGA Tour will start testing pace-of-play policy on Korn Ferry Tour that…wait for it…starts PENALIZING players for violations.” Until now, the players were first given a warning, a timing, a freebie, and then resulting in a one-stroke penalty. With the new changes, the freebie will be removed. But, what struck the fans was the policy being addressed for smaller tour events.

Fans have often urged the use of shot clocks, penalty strokes—anything to stop the turtles on tour from dragging rounds past five hours. If baseball can speed up, why not golf? It’s time to pick up the pace! Now with the post on X, fans are seen furious at the decisions made by the team, and they are expressing their anger.

Furious fans over the new ‘slow play’ initiative of the PGA Tour

Despite slow play coming into consideration, the fans have been vocal about not following the right path for it. One of the fans wrote, “Jay is and idiot,” while another wrote, “Can’t upset the top cream?” Korn Ferry Tour offers access to the top 30 players to participate in the following season of the PGA Tour. It is still a growing tour, which is also considered as a first step to the professional career. However, for the fans, having the rule implemented on the lesser-known professional.

More fans joined, writing about the difference in the two tours, “So you penalize the guys who it may effect their career arc but let the millionaires on the PGA Tour just carry on? Makes sense right @acaseofthegolf1.” As per the golf link report, the average PGA Tour player earns $1.2 million, while on the other hand, for the Korn Ferry tour, there isn’t such data to showcase. This vast difference has disturbed the fans.

One wrote, “Means absolutely nothing Rap. Going to penalize guys on the Korn Ferry Tour, which 99% plus of the golf viewing public couldn’t name a single event & they play for peanuts compared to the PGA Tour? Means zip and pip.” After the Utah Championship in 2023, having 227,000 viewership. The TV viewership was down to 147,000 at max until August 2024. While for the PGA Tour, it is five million. Applying the harsh rules to the players with a smaller audience and prize pot is not accepted by the fans, as per their comments.

Another furious fan wrote with humor, “Will be tested on the PGA Tour in 2038.” Monitored since 2015, penalized rarely. Now, the Korn Ferry Tour cracks down while the PGA Tour drags its feet—fans aren’t happy, and neither is viewership. With the majority against the new rule implementation, what are your thoughts on it? Share with us in the comments below.