Justin Thomas, Commissioner Jay Monahan Have J.B. Holmes' Slow-Playing Back

It's hardly a shocker that someone who speeds up a shot in hopes of taking advantage of a backstopping ball on the green has no problem with J.B. Holmes pitching a tent, even when at the expense of his playing partner and the PGA Tour product.

But that's Justin Thomas' view of last Sunday's debacle.

Brentley Romine, writing for Golfweek from the Waste Management Open, includes this from the current PGA Champion and Player Of The Year:

“I have J.B.’s back all day on that situation,” Thomas said Wednesday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. “It bothered me and I hate it for him. I went up to him (Tuesday) and told him … it was a great tournament for him, but I have a hard time saying I wouldn’t do anything differently than he did.

Again, nothing a penalty stroke now and then wouldn't fix. Or a "spirit of the rules" class.

Sadly, Commissioner Jay Monahan missed an opportunity to address speed of play, essentially confirming he will continue the do-nothing approach of his predecessor Tim Finchem.

From The Forecaddie's report from TPC Scottsdale where Monahan played the Wednesday pro-am and made excuses for Holmes taking over 4 minutes to play a shot:

“As it relates to J.B. … He was in the heat of the moment. It’s really hard to win out here. You’re trying to think through how you can get on the green in two with that amount of wind. I think he thought it would subside quickly, and it subsided and picked back up, and I think he said what he needed to say.”

There you go boys, take all the time you need until you get the wind you like. The Commissioner will have your back.

Comments

[Hardy Greaves]

Monahan: pretty face, no spine.

[ol Harv]

Saw Thomas's comments last night and was blown away, but this is the modern PGA Tour. And the correlation between the boys looking the other way with backstopping & backing up a fellow pal is a perfect example of what has now become the norm. Like backstopping, insert a Ryder Cup match on the 18th hole and see what Justin Thomas's reaction would be if Sergio Garcia took over 4 minutes to play his shot? The gallery would have gotten unruly, JT would be pacing all over the place, and it would turn into an ugly scene with the word "gamesmanship" grabbing every headline. Just incredible behavior by "professionals" who choose to look the other way instead of doing the right thing. This behavior will devalue the competitiveness of the PGA Tour, IMO.

[D. maculata]

IIRC, didn't Nobilo note since 1998 the PGAT had assessed a grand total of one slow play penalty (Day), while the ET has 26 to its credit? A different game, not to mention level of respect for fellow combatants.

[John C]

NFL kneelers... Commish head in sand & many players defiant... result - ratings and attendance crash.

PGA Tour blatant slow play issue... Commish head in sand & some players defiant... result?

[Zimmer]

We could have used more commercials on Sunday.

[BDF]

Folks, the only way this is ever going to change is if we stop watching.

[Brad]

JT is utterly unlikable. So...much...entitlement.

[Soro B]

It was all of five minutes ago that our esteemed host was praising the breath of fresh air that Monahan would bring to the Tour. "It's going to be different this time. No more of the backwards thinking of Finchem." Bring in the new boss, same as the old boss.

[jimbo]

BDF +1

[Sclaff & Foozle]

Easy fix .... after the tournament's agreed-upon time limit to hit a shot is over, and if the player hasn't yet pulled the trigger, the patrons may talk and scream and yell and snap their cell phone cameras. In other words, the customers at golf tournaments finally get a say. Oh, hell yes.

[Booyahs]

The PGA Tour Brass are probably stoked that golf fans are still discussing last week’s tournament. Especially since Monday finishes are the worst case scenario. Would not surprise me if JB wins this week. He won the Phoenix twice in a row for his first two wins.

[D. maculata]

If he does win this week, it'll be "shoulder season" in Scottsdale before they hand him the trophy.

[JS]

Curious if Alex Noren has weighed in on this...I haven't seen anything.

[cmoore]

sclaff & foozle is onto something . . .

[Sclaff & Foozle]

Thank you, cmoore. Let's stop the coddling.

[digsouth]

Folks, the only way this is ever going to change is if we stop watching.
Worth repeating. +2

S&F- oh, hell yes! SCREAM.

If this is ''entertainment'', then it falls short JB.... Commish is screwing the pooch. TW gets $$$$$ from TV for all: commish pisses it all away in 4:10. ~dig~

[WJ]

Makes you wonder what the limit is for these guys is if taking 4:10 to hit one shot isn't a problem. At what point would guys like Thomas and Monahan say was too long, 7, 8 minutes? Doesn't the negative reaction of the crowd at least concern the commissioner? Or is he not willing to admit it publicly?

[Loose Impediments]

Why not have officials walk around with an IBM or Rolex shot clock for all to see time and a 10yd chain crew? If the player fails to hit within shot clock time, it is a one stroke or 10yard penalty. The official drops the ball, not the player.

[CroDad]

Three takeaways re: JT and JB and the whole debacle:

1. These two have know each other for a very long time and JB served as a mentor of sorts to JT for about a decade and a half so it's safe to say that JT's remarks reflected that relationship;

2. The irony of course is that JT is one of the faster players on tour;

3. Penalties by the Tour is the only way to move this needle from the right to the left.

[Marky Mark]

With ShotLink, have the statisticians add in “time of shot” unless there is verbal interaction with an official regarding a ruling. Then post those stats per tournament and for the year.

[KLG]

"...think through how you can get on the green in two with that amount of wind."

Um, if you are one of the longest hitters in the game, you pull the club that will cover the distance and hit it hard. Then say a little prayer to the golf gods.

This is not rocket surgery.

[OB]

Amazing lack of spine by Monahan. He could not even suggest just a little bit that this was not ideal? Do the players run the show more than we realize?

[Irish Golf Nut]

@OB ... the 3 certainities of life
(1) Death
(2) Taxes and
(3) He who pays the piper calls the tune.

Jay Monahan is an employee (albeit a very powerful one) of an organisation which is owned by.....the players!!!

Saddened but not surprised by JT's remarks. "Entitlement" describes it to a T

[ol Harv]

It's a shame Sabbatini isn't more relevant, would love to hear his point of view on this. Based on his behavior that I saw personally at Greenbrier last year he just doesn't give a sh** and would have no problem telling JB he's a ridiculously slow player or JT that he's wrong by coming out and "having JB's back". In fact, I think he would enjoy telling them that.

[anonymous]

Irish Golf Nut ---

The PGA Tour is a private membership organization often referred to as “owned by the players” (the members), similar to a conventional private membership Golf Clubs. Everyone assumes the players control the PGA Tour… they do not.

Owners (voting members or voting shareholders) of private member organizations typically control the election to the Board. In turn, the Board mandates the Management Team (employees such as the Commissioner and his staff). The balance of power rests with those who control the Board. But in the PGA Tour’s case the players (members) do not even vote in the Board.

The PGA Tour has a very unusual structure. In fact, it’s structured that five Player Directors sit on the Policy Board out of 11 Directors. So the players don’t even have voting control of their own organization.

[3foot1]

Love the stats approach, Marky. Some of the slowpokes may actually be clueless. I'll bet if Noren 4-minute slow-played JB at some point, Holmes would be shocked at just how long it is.

[Manku]

Amazing how tone deaf they are in their defense of JB...the problem was not the 4 minutes, it was that he didn't go for the green and give himself a chance to win! (or tie for a playoff)

No one watches pro golf to see guys make 4th place checks...we watch for the drama of victory, and the agony of defeat. JB robbed us of that...and made it just about the money.

[Frank A.]

Irish-

Sadly you seem to be right about Thomas. I am watching the replay on Golf Channel and Thomas is acting like a spoiled brat. Sad because I have met his dad who is very classy and his goal is to keep JT grounded. I’m afraid he’s losing the battle to entitlement as you say.

Manku- J.B. didn’t rob us. He robbed himself and Noren...though Noren seems to classy to say it publicly.

[jbh]

Anyone care to guess how many eagles were made on South course #18 during the week? Here's how the leaders played it: 4/4/4, 5/4/5, 4/5/4, 4/5/5. One of those guys seems to think his way through #18 better than the rest.

Nod to Thomas and Monahan, unique situation, deal with it. Or as @BDF suggests, turn off the TV. You won't. You can't.

[Jerry]

The shocker to me was the historical references to J.B. As a quick player! Why change your natural habits in the heat of the moment when these guys are incredibly routine in their pre shot actions.seems he is hurting his chances slowing it down.

[Marmooskapaul]

I still say giving out slow play penalties at the end of a tournament would be worse than the slow play itself. It happens sometime...pressure...desicions...nerves??? To use a basketball analogy...officials should keep their whistles in their pockets and let the players decide the game.

What else would we have to talk about??? The winner?? Who won it anyway?? Oh yah...Jason...all...Day!!!

[Bill Asher]

I’m so fed up with the likes of today’s “rising stars” Spieth and Thomas for example...give me the personalities and backgrounds of the players of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s...it’s a privilege not a right to play on the tour...