How would you define a good game of golf? Fair match, thrilling swings and most importantly, finishing on time. Now the latter part is something that seems more like a miracle in golf lately, considering all the chaos and controversies surrounding the slow-paced play. Speaking of which, the PGA Tour has come up with its own tactics to tackle this issue. Under the new guidelines (rolling out in 2026), tournament fields that currently max out at 156 players will be trimmed to 144. Some events might even go smaller—down to 132 or 120 players—depending on factors like daylight and, you guessed it, the pace of play.

So, what happens until then? Right now, the PGA Tour has a Pace of Play Policy that includes penalty strokes for players taking too long. Sounds great in theory, but let’s be honest—it hasn’t done much to shake things up. That’s where the No Laying Up podcast crew comes in. They’ve thrown out the idea of introducing a shot clock, originally aimed at the LPGA. But honestly, it’s just as needed on the PGA Tour. But before anyone could get a stopwatch in hand, Tiger Woods decided he wasn’t going to wait for someone else to fix the issue.

Enter TGL, the tech-savvy league co-founded by Woods and Rory McIlroy. Among its many innovations is a game-changer—literally—a shot clock that ensures a smooth, timely pace of play. And fans? They’re loving it. Golf writer Kyle Porter summed it up perfectly after TGL’s opening night when he asked, “What’s one aspect of TGL opening night — be as specific as you want — that was better than you thought it would be?” Fans flooded the comments, and the shot clock was the clear MVP.

Even players are all for it. Post-match today, Rickie Fowler was asked if there’s a rule in TGL that could realistically translate to traditional golf. His answer was spot-on: “Shot clock, no question.”

While the shot clock in itself explains a lot. For the unversed, in TGL, players have 40 seconds to take their shot. Go over that limit? Boom—a one-stroke penalty for the team. It’s a no-nonsense way to address slow play, an issue Woods has been vocal about fixing for years.

Here is what fans think…

When Porter asked fans on X what stood out most about TGL’s opening night, the replies came pouring in, and the consensus was clear: speed and fun are winning fans over. One fan summed it up with the most obvious feature: “Shot clock!” Those two words say it all. Everything seems to be on point. Yes, there was some noise about TGL’s $160 ticket prices, but cutting down on slow play seems like TGL’s way of compensating for that. Worth the watch? That’s up to the audience to decide.

Another fan chimed in saying, “Speed of play. It’s just nice to watch golf and it doesn’t take 6 hours,” Now that hits home for anyone who’s ever sat through a seemingly endless golf broadcast. TGL’s faster format isn’t just about keeping the players moving; it’s about respecting viewers’ time. Golf that doesn’t require a full day’s commitment? Now, that’s something everyone can get behind. Another fan summed it up perfectly writing, “Nobody involved took it too seriously. Made it a fun watch. The pace of play is also fantastic.” The relaxed atmosphere of TGL is something fans really seem to appreciate. Without the intense pressure of traditional tour events, players seemed more approachable and relatable.

Another came up with their own insights stating, “Speed of play but loosing interest at the end. Maybe 12 holes is enough.” Now while 18 holes have been the standard forever, TGL has already shortened it to 15 holes. The format is designed to wrap up in about two hours, making it more viewer-friendly. But some fans feel even shorter rounds could keep the energy up and engagement higher.

But even now, fans are fully invested. Just look at the crowd. One fan wrote, “The crowd doing the fake shot clock countdown on Rickies putt” If you follow Fowler’s game, you know he’s great at maintaining pace, so this was a fun, light-hearted moment with the crowd joining in.

One fan also pointed out, “Pace of play was great. Need ties to carry over though for more drama”. So while one issue of time management is sorted, it seems like fans are craving more drama, particularly when it comes to ties. So what happens if there’s a tie? TGL settles it with a fun overtime twist. All three golfers take part in a best-of-three, closest-to-the-pin challenge. The first team to land two shots closest to the pin takes the win. Now, you see that’s when the real drama will begin.

With the PGA Tour’s changes still a couple of seasons away and TGL already setting a new standard, it feels like golf is finally heading toward a future where wrapping up on time isn’t just a wish—it’s the new normal.