At this rate, the growing delays at PGA Tour events should be a serious alarm for officials. Fans and players are growing increasingly frustrated with the rising delays due to slow play and the weather. The latest issues at the Texas Children’s Houston Open have only made matters worse.

This is a $9.5 million event, and it’s already been hit by two major delays, one after the other. And the growing concern is that if this trend continues, the Tour could lose the attention and support of fans who are already getting fed up.

The first round of the tournament was delayed due to darkness, with four players tied at the top at 5-under. The Tour gained heavy backlash because of it. The reason? Slow play, once again. Then came the second round. It was halted at 3:01 p.m. CT due to “dangerous weather conditions,” namely thunderstorms in the area. While the weather-related suspension is understandable, it’s the earlier delay that continues to rub people the wrong way. 

Fast forward, play resumed at 5:09 p.m. CT, after a delay of 2 hours and 8 minutes. That’s a long time to wait, and it’s not just inconvenient—it messes with the flow of the game and leaves everyone frustrated. Initially, the delay was attributed to the severe weather, which made sense, but then came another blow. The PGA Tour announced that the second round has been suspended due to darkness at 7:37 pm CT.

The play will now resume on Saturday morning. Unlike the usual weekend pairings consisting of two golfers in each group, the Saturday play will see golfers in groups of three. The 2025 PLAYERS Championship witnessed the similar situation. 

The growing pattern of slow play and the subsequent delays have fans and players questioning whether the PGA Tour is doing enough to address the problem. With millions on the line and more eyes on these events than ever before, it’s clear that officials will need to act swiftly before the backlash becomes too much to handle.

Slow play becomes a growing issue for the PGA Tour

Slow play has been a problem on the PGA Tour for a while now, and it’s really starting to get under people’s skin. Both players and fans have had enough and are demanding action to address the issue. Rory McIlroy even called slow play “an epidemic” during the Farmers Insurance Open.

Broadcaster Dottie Pepper also jumped in, saying the game needs more “respect” for everyone—players, fans, and broadcasters alike. It’s not just about playing well; it’s about keeping things moving so everyone can enjoy the game. It didn’t stop there. At the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Tom Kim got some heat for taking his time on the course, and it only escalated from there. Things got really frustrating at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where play had to be stopped because it got too dark.

But it’s not just slow play that’s causing all the issues—the weather has been playing a big role too. These days, fans are almost shocked when an event actually finishes without a hitch. Just look at January 2025. Out of the five events held that month, weather delays forced the suspension of three—Sony Open, Farmers Insurance Open, and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It’s becoming the norm, and it’s making fans even more impatient and frustrated.

With all of this going on, it’s clear that the PGA Tour needs to do something about the slow play and the constant delays. If they don’t, they might lose the attention of fans who just want to see smooth, uninterrupted play.