Masters Ridley Calls Slow Play Impolite

It may be the first time the argument around slow play was connected to the fundamental courtesy of the game of golf.

Usually, playing on a local Muni is where the courtesy part goes out the window, but to suggest that professional golfers who play slowly are impolite is unique.

It's doubtful any professional golfer would have considered their slow play actions anything but trying to play their best.

The PGA Tour, in its recent fan survey, has discussed the need to address slow play because fans are asking for it, but the courtesy reason has not been mentioned as a fan concern.

Ridley was asked about the concern of the Drive-Chip-Putt contestants using AimPoint on the greens during the competition and the Chairman suggested a time limitation would not be out of the realm of possibility.

Are we talking Shot Clock?

“We will be dealing with that issue this week,” Ridley said of slow play. “I'm not going to tell you that I'm going to be happy with the results, but I think I am encouraged that the PGA Tour is doing some things, experimenting with some timing procedures that might be a little bit more aggressive than we've seen in the past.”

One potential fix to slow play is electronic measuring devices.

The tour will experiment using devices starting at the RBC Heritage next week and in three other tournaments.

Then, it will gather data to determine if the devices, which are legal under the rules of golf and used in USGA and PGA of America events, might speed up play.

If the Tour finds a direct correlation between faster play and the use of these devices, could the Masters allow for their use?

Interesting question.