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DeChambeau & Stenson Demand Consistency in Open’s Slow‑Play Crackdown

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Ajayi Segun | Last updated Jul 19, 2025 5:49 PM ET

Bryson DeChambeau and Henrik Stenson have challenged The Open Championship’s slow-play crackdown, urging officials to apply the rules fairly and consistently. Both players received warnings during the third round and believe the sudden enforcement was lacking in consistency.

DeChambeau Questions Timing Procedures

DeChambeau, who has often faced scrutiny over his pace of play, also received a warning and quickly questioned the uneven timing procedures. The current rule allows 40 seconds per shot, with a 10-second extension for the first player in a group. However, tournament officials rarely apply this rule consistently. Players took nearly six hours to complete the first two rounds due to poor weather, long distances between holes, and course conditions. Despite the delays, no warnings were issued during that period.

“I was moving my butt as fast as I could,” DeChambeau said. “Greens were really tricky. I was trying to read them right. It’s very simple. It’s not difficult at all. You eventually time everybody for their whole entire round. Very simple. Nobody wants to do it because people are too scared to get exposed, which I am an advocate for. I’d love to be timed, and I have no problem with that. My putting, I’m more deliberate, take more time on that, but when it comes to iron shots, off the tee, I’m pretty fast.”

Stenson Expresses Frustration over Inconsistency

2016 Open winner Henrik Stenson expressed frustration after a referee warned him for slow play despite earlier rounds running well beyond the scheduled pace.

“We got a warning on the 10th green that we were three minutes out, so five minutes over the allotted time frame,” Stenson said. “I had joked yesterday with the other guys about the first two days, first round took about an hour over the allotted time. Second round was four to five minutes over. I said: ‘We just have to wait until halfway through Saturday or Sunday and someone is going to come up to you and say that you’re two minutes over and they’re going to start pushing you on.’ That’s exactly what happened.

“I think if you can play an hour over time scheduled in one day, then all of a sudden two minutes is of huge importance the next day, it feels a bit inconsistent to me.”

Officials began warning players during the third round after conditions had improved and the pace of play had increased. Several players have supported the call for more consistent rules enforcement. Jon Rahm and Matthew Fitzpatrick have both criticized the pace of play on tour and want stronger, clearer guidelines. Shane Lowry, who received a separate penalty earlier in the week for a moving ball, also questioned how officials apply the rules.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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