Day Opens The Door For New Commish To Attack Slow Play
New PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan probably took a few aspirin when he saw that world No. 1 Jason Day returned from time off and, unprompted, proudly touted plans to play slower in 2017.
After all, the new Commish has more on his plate than you'd expect given the supposedly great product Saint Finchem left behind. Big picture stuff like trying to fix a confusing schedule, repairing relations with sponsors and keeping FedEx around should be Monahan's first-month priority instead of jumping in on the slow play debate.
But did Day just hand Monahan the perfect opening to attack the slow play problem?
Because of Finchem's many blind spots related to the actual product of PGA Tour golf, none was more perverse and damaging as his desire to see pace of play policies ignored. Finchem prioritized protecting the gentleman's game imagery above the gentlemanly behavior of playing golf at a considerate pace. Finchem never shied from bragging about his players taking hats off and shaking hands for the 18th green cameras.
Slow players? That could be swept under the rug because television wouldn't show someone rudely taking three minutes to play a shot, until they started showing such antics down the stretch because they had no choice. Then a Sean O'Hair or Kevin Na or Jason Day made it apparent how ungentlemanly it is for someone with PGA Tour level talent to take that long to hit a shot, and the Commissioner openly resisted penalty shots.
It is no coincidence that in the nearly 20 years Finchem was in office, the last penalty occurred in his first months on the job and never since. He also worked to undermine the stature of his officials by prolonging contract negotiations and underpaying the unionized force charged with enforcing the rules. And don't think players were oblivious to this neutralization of the referees or the amount of time that has passed since the last penalty (1995).
Even the USGA appeared has bowed to Finchem, implementing its very effective pace of play system at all but the one of its championships. It just happens to be the one where coddled PGA Tour players play: the U.S. Open.
Now that Finchem is retired, the PGA Tour slowpokes' sense of taking as much time as they'd like came flooding out of Day's mouth prior to Kapalua's 2017 season kickoff event. With no fear of being penalized and a rumored $10 million a year from Nike to pay any minor fines, Day made clear he's not going to rush himself.
The full comment:
Jason Day on slow pace of play in golf ... pic.twitter.com/u2wfqW0BmF
— Brian Wacker (@brianwacker1) January 3, 2017
Imagine a pitcher declaring that he will not throw a pitch until he's ready or a free-throw shooter backing off five times before taking a free shot? The leagues would crack down.
In an era when no sport can afford to be seen as slowing down, the PGA Tour has shied away from enforcement that might help solve the problem. However, a new commissioner is in town and he's just been given a natural opening to push back.
Monahan shied away from taking a strong stand on slow play in a Q&A at PGATour.com earlier this week, understandably not needing to start his tenure off on a combative foot. Yet Jason Day has uttered comments far removed from the simple reality that the PGA Tour survives on its entertainment value, not on how it pads Day's bank account. The suggestion he will back off until he's ready made clear Day's entitlement level runs so deep that even his truest believers might not feel sorry to see a PGA Tour rules official stalking him around Kapalua. And Torrey Pines. Or any fairway he pitches his tent upon to indulge himself at the expense of our viewing pleasure.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 08:55 PM 50 Comments | in PGA Tour, Pace of Play, Slow Play, Tim Finchem
Reader Comments (50)
Like Carts on TOC, players should be asked to provide proof that they are over 65 years of age or have medical needs if they to use aids - period!
You may well have a point, however what has that to do with cart or distance aids?
St Andrews, have placed a condition on the use of carts (only used if over 65 or have a medical problem), yet no restriction on outside information re distance, which is pushing players further and further away from the game of golf by breaking golfs 'prime directive' the golfers plays by his God given senses. In other words, no outside information via the caddie or other aids.
Distance aids clearly displays the greed of the modern player, not in playing golf but in squeeze out the very fibre that makes the game enjoyable and yes, it’s also un-sportsman like, but then what does that matter today.
One doesn't have to wait until on the tee to pull the glove from the back pocket, then look at the fairway, then assess the wind, etc. Many golfers give their minds a great deal of down time between end of one shot and arriving at the result.
@ Bud +1
Their down time has allowed designers to take their eyes of the design game, explains why many courses just do not do justice to the game, not even todays game.
The other problem is greed, golf courses that have adopted the medical profession model of "how many can we get on the course an hour." Just like doctors they begin thinking more people in less time = more money! At what cost? Medical errors/negligence is the third leading cause of death in this country. Going faster always has consequences.
I hope no one really believes the decreasing number of golfers is because experienced golfers are quitting. They are the last people you will lose. The game gets in your blood, you love it and do not know why. If given the choice of 5 hour rounds or no golf, my wife and I would just make 5 hours to play and would not think of quitting. I do not know anyone who loves the game that would just quit. So is the answer really to look down on any "average joe's" who really don't get it?? Imagine being a new player or someone thinking they would like to try it heard those comments from Jason Day? Does anyone remember learning the game? I will bet that no one played a round in 3 hours 45 minutes in their first 10-20 rounds. But now we are elitist (again) and because I do not have time to enjoy a day of golf everyone else needs to speed up. They should not be able to just enjoy the day because I am in a hurry and I am obviously better than they are, they need to quit. You can't just let folks play through as much as you used to because of the aforementioned attempt to get as many golfers teed off in an hour as we can.
What is the answer? If you do not have time to play golf, quit or make the time! ( it does sound better to discourage golfers doesn't it?) Golf Clubs need to think, create slots of time when new players, beginners etc are welcome. Then all these speed golfers know when not to go. I live in Mississippi and in the summer (9 months a year) the hottest part of the day is not real popular for tee times, that's when my wife and I go many times specifically to enjoy a round no matter how long it takes. Offering those times for new golfers, beginners, juniors what have you would probably increase the number of tee times for the course. Do something to welcome people to the game instead of telling them "If you are not good and/or fast, you are the problem in golf."
Dustin Thomas
Pascagoula, Mississippi
The other problem is greed, golf courses that have adopted the medical profession model of "how many can we get on the course an hour." Just like doctors they begin thinking more people in less time = more money! At what cost? Medical errors/negligence is the third leading cause of death in this country. Going faster always has consequences.
I hope no one really believes the decreasing number of golfers is because experienced golfers are quitting. They are the last people you will lose. The game gets in your blood, you love it and do not know why. If given the choice of 5 hour rounds or no golf, my wife and I would just make 5 hours to play and would not think of quitting. I do not know anyone who loves the game that would just quit. So is the answer really to look down on any "average joe's" who really don't get it?? Imagine being a new player or someone thinking they would like to try it heard those comments from Jason Day? Does anyone remember learning the game? I will bet that no one played a round in 3 hours 45 minutes in their first 10-20 rounds. But now we are elitist (again) and because I do not have time to enjoy a day of golf everyone else needs to speed up. They should not be able to just enjoy the day because I am in a hurry and I am obviously better than they are, they need to quit. You can't just let folks play through as much as you used to because of the aforementioned attempt to get as many golfers teed off in an hour as we can.
What is the answer? If you do not have time to play golf, quit or make the time! ( it does sound better to discourage golfers doesn't it?) Golf Clubs need to think, create slots of time when new players, beginners etc are welcome. Then all these speed golfers know when not to go. I live in Mississippi and in the summer (9 months a year) the hottest part of the day is not real popular for tee times, that's when my wife and I go many times specifically to enjoy a round no matter how long it takes. Offering those times for new golfers, beginners, juniors what have you would probably increase the number of tee times for the course. Do something to welcome people to the game instead of telling them "If you are not good and/or fast, you are the problem in golf."
Dustin Thomas
Pascagoula, Mississippi
01.7.2017 | Unregistered CommenterDustin Thomas
Copyright © 2016, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
Maybe we just need to outlaw all distance finding devices and make everyone use the yardage markers on course. Walk off the distance from a marker, decide what club, etc. Yes sir, that'll be a real time saver.
While we're at it, get rid of those electric carts. It'll save the environment and keep you healthy.
Luddites.