For the first time since new rules were implemented, the long-awaited pace of play rules are finally being enforced. It took a long while, and it could be argued that they should’ve been enforced much earlier, like at the Masters. That is not important, as now the rules are being enforced. The question now is: who broke the rule and how was he penalized for it?
Who Was Punished for Slow Play?
At the Diners Club Peru Open, PGA golfer Hunter Wolcott was penalized for his pace of play. He was lining up his putt on the green of his 16th hole. Wolcott took just under a minute, at 58 seconds, to take his shot. Under the previous policy, Wolcott would have received a warning for his first offense. He would have gotten the penalty only after the second offense. Under these new rules, there is no warning for slow play. Players are only allowed 40 seconds with an extra ten depending on the circumstances. For his pace of play, Wolcott received a one-stroke penalty.
The stroke was for a par on the hole that Wolcott ended up missing anyway. With the penalty, he received a double bogey on the hole.
Hunter Wolcott On His Penalty
Wolcott isn’t too happy with his penalty, as any player wouldn’t be in his situation. He said that he doesn’t agree with the penalty applying to him, but he also doesn’t disagree with the rules. Wolcott still thinks these rules are a good way to speed up slow players. When asked about his penalty, he said that he would accept it.
“Nothing I can do about it now, still in a good spot. Happy about my game. Adds more fuel to the fire for the weekend.”
Wolcott would go on to say that he was flustered over the situation at first, after being told his pace of play was off. In games like this, a single point can make all the difference. Luckily, he was able to make up for it with a birdie on the next hole.
How It Will Be Received
There has been a lot of scepticism around these pace of play rules. Many fans were excited to see things improve, but weren’t holding out too much hope. Before Hunter Wolcott, the PGA had only given out three penalties since 1995. Since the rules were revised this year, only Wolcott was penalized. The RBC Heritage did have range finders to shave off some time. Players like Scottie Scheffler were skeptical of the very idea, saying that it’s the course size that’s the major problem, and at best, only twenty minutes can be shaved off. However, with Wolcott’s reaction to this, it could be a good motivator.
Wolcott, despite having his reservations about the decision, took the penalty in stride. He used it as a good motivation to fuel his birdie on the next hole. It looks like when these pace of play rules are enforced, they help the players by either forcing them to respect each other’s time, or by giving them just a little bit of motivation. As to how much time it will shave off is yet to be determined.
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