There was a time when Brian Harman felt the same way about others as you feel about him now. He hated slow play. He was fast, always in go-mode—so fast that he had to wait for others. He was an “aim and shoot” guy even before Brooks Koepka made it popular. 

Cut to a few years later, Harman’s name is synonymous with slow play. His pre-shot routine has been the subject of memes and mockery. NBC put a waggle counter on him, ESPN cut to a turtle while he was putting, and, of course, netizens have made mincemeat of him. But how did it come to this? 

Well, frustration. Brian Harman explains in the Fore Play podcast that he was one of the fastest players when he first came on Tour. The PGA Tour keeps a shot clock that records and ranks players on their pace of play.

“I was always top-five, top-eight, top-ten. Was a superfast player as a junior golfer. I just found myself staring around all day. Was… [Used to] get so frustrated with guys they were taking (long). It drove me nuts.” Harman was quick to remind everyone that even when he was facing brutal scrutiny, “I’ve Never Been Fined”.

So, he asked for suggestions from a good friend, Lucas Glover, who was also very fast. Glover admitted that if he could do it again, he would rather be a little slow because fast playing cost him a few important shots.

Harman took the suggestion. First, he slowed down his putting. “I’m not gonna hit the putt till I’m ready to hit.” Eventually, he slowed down his drives and later his approaches. A few years later, Harman felt he went a bit overboard. Now, the problem was the opposite; he was taking too much time.

The former Open champion admitted as much in a previous interview. “I didn’t understand that when I slowed down it opened up this, not OCD, but I don’t want to go until I’m ready. I just got slower and slower, I’ve sped it up a little but I’m working on it.” He indeed is working on it, and the results do show that.

Brian Harman shares the progress he made since last year’s Open

Brian Harman admitted that nowadays his playing practice rounds are not just about improving his game; they are also about the pace of play. “When I play golf at home, it’s like I’m trying to get there. I [am] just trying to get there quicker. Just trying to get to that spot a little bit quicker,” Harman added in the Fore Play Podcast. 

The results? The three-time PGA Tour winner recounted a funny story. Harman revealed it was probably at Pinehurst where a bunch of fans started counting when he was over the ball. “‘One, two, three, four…’ and then I hit it. They are like, oh s**t! That wasn’t that bad. That’s like ‘Yes, that’s right. I’ve been working on these. Clownsss.”

It’s worth remembering that Brian Harman was once sent a letter by the PGA Tour for holding up play. He shot back with the Shotlink data. “‘What do I do? I’m your 12th-fastest player.’” Perhaps, the 37-year-old will once again get there.