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Wednesday
Feb212018

Na, We Don't Have A Problem: Retired Cricketer Mocks PGA Tour Slow Play

H/T to Alex Myers for spotting the latest gem for the slow play files: a cricketer mocking last weekend's Genesis Open slow play and in particular, prime culprit Kevin Na. As we know, the PGA Tour embraces slow play and seems to think that as every other sport on the planet tries to speed up, apparently this kind of nonsense will fly.

Retired English cricketeer Kevin Pietersen is my kind of guy; he’s trying to save the rhinos and he’s openly mocking Kevin Na taking over a minute to hit a tap in putt last week at Riviera. Do I need to point out that it’s not a good look for golf when athletes in other sports are openly mocking golfers for taking too long? Or, in the case of the former cricketer with 3.6 million followers, filming a follow up how-to video?

 

And his follow-up how-to for Na:

 

 

 

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Reader Comments (16)

Doug Sanders and Scott Hoch would disagree!
02.21.2018 | Unregistered CommenterKevin part deux
That was caused because the golf ball goes to far on putts and leads to slow play. <sarcasm>
02.21.2018 | Unregistered CommenterOWGR Fan
For future reference it’s “Cricketer”.
Yes it is a concern for sure. This honestly would be exactly the same as IJP (KP is a similar polarising character) dissing your sport. Embarrassing.
02.21.2018 | Unregistered CommenterMartin Ayers
Keven Pietersen is a tosser and can get stuffed. Anyone who has struggled with short putts understands it sometimes takes time to get your mind right before going ahead and pulling the trigger.
02.21.2018 | Unregistered CommenterKCW
Great publicity for Trump Dubai. All the top cricketers love that place.
02.21.2018 | Unregistered Commenter45
That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard at least find a better example . That wasn’t a tap in and could be a 3 putt with any lack of concentration. It would be close to a 5 hour round with Kevin Pieterson on a weekend trying to get around Riv. Shooting 125 with 55 putts I guess is fun for him . Give it a break Kevin stop policing other sports you suck at.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterBrandel Chamblee
Duh. Everyone knows that Kevin Na plays slowly because he hits the ball so long. Don’t need to consider the fact that putt was close to a 4 footer on a 12 stimp green with final group/final round pressure. The Pro V1 is the Devil.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterBooyahs
Maybe we need a special putting ball. Could use the ones found at mini-golf operations.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterGreg B.
Yeah, players from other sports smacking on each other will help a little bit, and I support it, but it's the drunk, fat redneck who's had a fun and long day in the sun, willing to be kicked off the course by a Pinkerton, who screams at a Kevin Na, loud enough for the TV microphones to pick it up, "Hurry the eff up, dumb ass!" that'll start getting results. Then ... then ... every week you'll have a few nice folks who scream their thoughts, too.

I believe that solution is called "organic?" It's when regular folks ... drunk, fat rednecks included ... have had enough and begin a solution on their own as opposed waiting for Congress to act or whatever.

Anyhow, it is possible to three and four putt from a foot or so on super fast greens. Not that I've done it, of course, you know, a bunch of effing times.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterSclaff & Foozle
I admire Kevin Na and John Holmes for ignoring everyone and taking the time that they feel necessary. If slow play is an issue, then the TOUR needs to step up and do something. Everyone in golf has his own pre-shot routine and some are quicker than others.

The LPGA has enforced slow play more than any group.

Also, is it cricketeer, cricketer, or cricket player? Cricketeer sounds like a performer.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterZimmer
That putt broke MAYBE an inch. Absurd that it takes that long. I like Na but this is Exhibit A for a shot
Clock and getting rid of the cheater line.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterGinGHIN
Two things.
1. Na took WAY too long.
2. Only a dumbass would think that was a tap-in.
North Texas Golfer +5 both are true
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterPGT
Also agree with NTG. It was more than a tap in, and I can understand occasionally a golfer might need a extra moment to settle his mind before the putt. But this amount of time is getting to be the rule, not the excption.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterThe Big K
Another bifurcation - a shot clock on the PGA tour. I'm for it. It works in the NBA, NFL, and Curling...

However, I think the TV coverage covers up many players tendencies to be deliberate in deciding on a shot. It feels like they are picking on Na. He is nervous and they are keying on that higher probability of a miss, so they put the camera on him and when he backs off they stay on him and criticize him (which probably does not help). Personally, i feel for someone putting fast greens under pressure. TV is not showing a lot of players wasting time. Get them all to the same standard of play.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterMatt H.
Amateur events use a checkpoint method of monitoring pace of play. If you are late to your checkpoint (generally the fourth, ninth, 12th, and 18th holes), and don't have a valid reason, then you and your fellow competitors may be penalized for slow play.
Most of today's players come from the amateur golf world and are familiar with this system.

This would work on the TOUR.
02.22.2018 | Unregistered CommenterZimmer

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