LIV Golf has just surpassed the PGA Tour once again. The Saudi-based league has gone head-to-head with the American promotion ever since the former’s establishment in 2022. During this time, the Greg Norman-led LIV Golf has been able to attract some of the biggest talents like Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka among others.

With the backing from the PIF, LIV Golf can offer its players much more lucrative options with a far less stressful schedule. However, the spoils have come at a price as LIV Golf has not been able to garner enough viewership and fan support.

The PGA Tour still has a stronghold over the golf community. Loyalists of the sport prefer the familiar format of the PGA Tour as compared to the fresh and exciting ideas presented by LIV Golf. But that doesn’t stop them from criticizing Jay Monahan and his team for the mistakes they make. The PGA Tour recently faced the wrath of the fans after the former released the new field size policy proposal.

The issue came to light once again when a tweet posted by @TeeTimesPub caught everyone’s attention. The digital news outlet shared an interesting stat that surprised everyone in the world of golf. It read, “LIV Golf has assessed the same amount of slow play penalties in 36 events that the PGA Tour has in the last 30 years. No joke. The tour has only done it twice since 1995.”

Just a minute later, @TeeTimesPub provided more information regarding the stat in another tweet, “PGA Tour slow play penalties since 1995: Glen Daly – 1995, Honda Classic Miguel Angel Carballo / Brian Campbell – 2011 Zurich Classic; LIV Golf slow play penalties since 2022: Adrian Meronk – Jeddah 2024, Richard Bland – Chicago 2024″ Replying to the tweet, @khhauthor pointed out, “You missed one. Bland was also penalized in Spain” stating that LIV Golf has actually handed 3 slow play penalties in 3 years.  That means that in the short time since the league has been active, it has broken a 30-year-old record of the PGA Tour.

This is deeply concerning considering the new reform plans proposed to Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour of America may take a controversial approach to resolving the issue. Let’s compare how the difference in strategy between both the leagues to get a better picture of the issue.

The pace of play battle between LIV Golf & the PGA Tour

Recent PGA Tour events have faced a lot of issues concerning loss of play. There is a general understanding that it only occurs because of the abrupt pace of play. But, the solution suggested to the PGA Tour officials has still received a lot of negative reactions from the fans. Based on the new policy, the field size of various events will be drastically reduced to improve the pace of play. While it is a viable solution, there is a common belief in the community that stricter slow-play regulations will also have the same effect. Something that LIV Golf has been implementing ever since its inception.

LIV Golf has developed a reputation for being a better-paced format. With no advertisement breaks, more interactive play, and quick candid interviews between holes, the Saudi-based league maintains a great flow of play and keeps the fans engaged throughout the event. While it may not attract as large of an audience, LIV Golf fans do enjoy a far more thrilling experience than those who follow the PGA Tour.

Could Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour benefit from following a similar pattern to improve their pace of play? Or do you believe the new reform is the right approach towards the loss of play issue? Let us know your views in the comments section.