You know that the topic is dead when Jack Nicklaus calls slow play a problem.
Nicklaus was asked about the pace of play of the professional golfers at a press event held on Saturday in The Woodlands, Houston. He will be competing in the Greats of Golf – a nine hole exhibition during the Insperity Championship of the PGA Tour Champions.
Nicklaus stated, “They have a serious problem today on the Tour.” “The golf ball plays a role in the problem. The longer you walk, the longer your course will be. I don’t believe it’s good. The USGA and R&A proposed) bringing golf back. It’s a great start. This is the first time in a long time that they have done this. We’ll have to see how that goes.
Nicklaus continued, “It has to be fair,” but they must set an example. It’s not pleasant to see someone stand over the ball and watch for 30 minutes.
Slow play made headlines after the Masters was forced to use threesomes for the final round due to weather delays. The slow pace of the game was also exposed on television. Brooks Koepka who was in the final group called out Patrick Cantlay who also took his time on multiple occasions the RBC Heritage following week, but pointed out that in both instances he wasn’t put on the clock. Slow play is a persistent problem that rarely receives any attention. Nicklaus was a rookie in the year that this wasn’t true.
Golden Bear was always a deliberate and slow player, but he realized early on in his career how much he was playing too slowly. Joe Black, a PGA official, penalized him two strokes in the second round of the 1962 Portland Open. Nicklaus won the 1962 Portland Open by six strokes, but he had learned a valuable lesson.
Nicklaus said that Black had told him to be ready to play when his turn came. “Jack, take as much time as you like over the ball, but you have to be prepared.”
Nicklaus said, “I tried to keep out of everyone’s way.” “I did not want to disturb anyone lining up a putt when they were lining their own putt, so I stayed in the back. I didn’t like to walk my yardages. The golf ball took me a little while to find, but that was not the problem. The issue was not being prepared to play. After playing on the Tour, I realized that it is also a courtesy towards the field. It’s not right to do that.”
Nicklaus blamed caddies as well for contributing to the problem.
He said, “By then they’d finished talking I wouldn’t be able to hit a shot.” “It is a problem.”
On Saturday, April 29th, 2023, the Greats of Golf played nine holes at the Insperity Invitational. (Courtesy of Insperity Invitational).
Gary Player agreed. He said that it was unfair to others to take so much time. “You have a set amount of time that you must adhere to or else you will be penalized.”
Player said that golfers only have three practice rounds, and they then spend too much time on the greens doing Aim Point or studying their yardage book. Player stated that Tiger Woods, Ben Crenshaw and Bobby Locke did not do this.
Lee Trevino continued, “I can read the green at 50 yards.” Keep staring at the green while you walk, you can see all of its curves. You can read the putt before you even get to it.
Annika Sorenstam says that the pace of play problem begins at junior level.
She said, “The juniors are watching the professionals and the Masters. They see how long the pros spend and do the exact same thing.” “I know that the AJGA is doing a great job. But when they go to college, it all disappears and they become professionals. It’s a problem that has been there from the start.
It’s unfair and nobody enjoys it. Time is running out, and time is precious, so start from the beginning, and teach them how to hit when they’re ready. “The more we think about it, the more complex it becomes, right? So just hit and move.”
