Bryson DeChambeau Proposes Speeding Up Game Play Following Timer Activation at Royal Portrush
The Open Championship, currently being held at Royal Portrush, is facing a familiar challenge: slow play. Jon Rahm, a player on the LIV Golf League, has acknowledged the issue, especially in a larger Major field.
Rahm noted that the rounds in the LIV Golf League typically last less than 4.5 hours, but The Open can be longer due to the larger field. He cited weather conditions at Royal Portrush as extending the length of his first round.
In an effort to combat slow play, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) introduced the Shot Clock Masters in 2018. The tournament, staged in Belgium, aimed to reduce playtime by setting a strict clock. The first player in a group had 50 seconds to hit, while the remaining players had 40 seconds each. Despite its introduction, the Shot Clock Masters lasted for only one year and received a mixed response from players.
Bryson DeChambeau, who has been putting time limits to the forefront of the conversation, carded a three-under-par 68 and a six-under 65 in his previous rounds. He suggested that everyone should be timed for their entire round to improve pace of play. DeChambeau expressed that he would welcome being timed during play. However, during Saturday's play, he was put on the clock on the 17th hole and was given a one-shot penalty for exceeding the time limit.
DeChambeau stated that he was timed on the 17th hole after striping a drive down there. He believes that a new system for timing players would be more fair. DeChambeau struggled with pace throughout the day and lost time to the group in front of him.
Rahm suggested that players should communicate with each other and keep their minds engaged to cope with longer rounds. He noted that longer rounds are usually related to the amount of players in the field, especially in Majors.
Despite improving on Friday, rounds were still over five hours long on Saturday. The first rounds of The Open Championship took nearly six hours to complete. DeChambeau, despite his struggles with pace, managed to maintain a good score, indicating that even under pressure, he can deliver.
As The Open Championship continues, the issue of slow play remains a topic of discussion among players and spectators alike. The question remains: how can golf maintain its traditional pace while accommodating larger fields in Majors?
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