Slow play has long been a talking point in professional golf, but during Friday’s second round of the 2025 PGA Championship, the scrutiny turned unexpectedly toward two major champions: Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa. According to a post by PA golf correspondent Phil Casey, “Thomas/Morikawa warned for slow play according to on-course reporter – and not happy about it.” The duo was reportedly cautioned after the 12th hole, visibly frustrated by the timing and implication.

The warning came after Patrick Cantlay—often the poster child for slow play—was again under fire earlier in the 1st round for a bizarre delay on the 14th hole. A group of turtles caused an extended pause when they wandered into a bunker, prompting social media to erupt in jokes tying Cantlay to the slow-moving creatures. The “turtle damage” incident only deepened fan frustration about the pace of play, with critics once again labeling Cantlay “The Human Rain Delay.” Yet while Cantlay drew predictable ire, it was Thomas and Morikawa who found themselves under official scrutiny. The irony wasn’t lost on fans or commentators. Both players have recently supported calls for more transparency around pace-of-play data. “I’m on the slow side of players,” Thomas admitted earlier this year. “I want to know why I’m slow.” Morikawa added, “If you’re slow, you know you’re slow. If you don’t know, then there’s an issue.” Still, getting flagged during a major was not what they had in mind.

Thomas had already endured a chaotic first round, finishing with his sock and shoe off as he tried to play a ball from a creek-side lie. His round included five birdies, five bogeys, and a double bogey — the definition of rollercoaster golf. He carded a 2-over 73 and sits at T73 midway through the 2nd round. Morikawa, meanwhile, played solidly but drew attention for a costly misjudgment on the 18th hole Thursday, slicing his ball into the water from a difficult lie. Sky Sports commentators called it “extraordinary” and “one of the sillier decisions” they’d seen. Despite the error, he sits at T24 after the 1st round.

With muddy conditions and long waits already testing player patience, the warning adds yet another twist to a week where slow play has dominated the headlines, just not in the way anyone expected. The timing of the warning couldn’t be more relevant, as it comes amid the Tour’s broader effort to curb delays and modernize pace-of-play policies across all levels of competition. Recent initiatives include the temporary use of distance-measuring devices (DMDs) at select events such as RBC Heritage and Truist Championship, and a revised penalty structure on the Korn Ferry Tour, where even a first “bad time” now results in a one-stroke penalty. While still in the trial phase, Tour officials hope these measures will drive lasting change. But as officials work to clean up the pace of play, another mess—this one quite literal—has stirred fresh controversy and player frustration at Quail Hollow.

Mud balls create chaos at Quail Hollow

Scottie Scheffler didn’t mince words after round one of the 2025 PGA Championship. “When you think about the purest test of golf, I don’t personally think that hitting the ball in the middle of the fairway should get you punished,” he said. But that’s exactly what’s happening at Quail Hollow—thanks to mudballs.

So, what are mudballs? After heavy rain, wet turf can cause golf balls to embed into the ground upon landing, collecting clumps of mud. These clumps drastically affect a shot’s spin and direction. In normal conditions, the PGA Tour would invoke “preferred lies,” allowing players to lift, clean, and replace balls in the fairway. But at majors like the PGA Championship, the tradition of “play it as it lies” reigns, making mudballs part of the challenge.

Scheffler wasn’t alone in his frustration. “Due to a rules decision, that is completely taken away from us by chance,” he added. Jordan Spieth echoed this after a mudball-marred performance at the Masters, calling them “daggers” on key holes. With preferred lies off the table and mud a persistent factor, players are left navigating fairways where perfect drives can lead to unpredictable results, turning golf’s most fundamental skill into a gamble.