There’s one easy way to kill golf’s energy: slow play. There’s a fine line between a technical approach and simply destroying the game’s momentum. And when it tips over the latter side, not only is the fans’ experience ruined, but it also leaves the competitors frustrated. Still, golf is full of those moments. Let’s take a look at five such times when golfers went beyond the time restraints.

#1: Tom Kim — AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2025

Tom Kim is notorious among the golfing world for his slow-play saga. Often termed among the slowest players on Tour, Kim is undoubtedly the buzz-kill of events. One specific event that aroused intense drama on and off the course was at the Pebble Beach pro-am this year in January. Kim finished T7 for the event. But it wasn’t without controversy.

As the final round approached, Kim found himself obsessing over the par-5 sixth hole. He took a long time lining up the shot, adding up to 1 minute and 5 seconds, 25 seconds over the limit. That truly was a test of patience for the spectating crowds, no doubt. However, despite all the preparation, Kim’s shot went awry, sparking frustration among commentators and the audience. People commented on how players like Kim turned a brisk, competitive Sunday into a drawn-out marathon. One commentator, Nobilo, chipped in, “It wasn’t worth the wait.”

#2: Chisato Iwai — Black Desert Championship 2025

Chisato Iwai’s moment came at the Black Desert Championship earlier this year. The costly slow-play penalty came in the second round after a 2-under 70, keeping her close to the projected cutline. Through her first 16 holes, Iwai shot a 3-under for the tournament, right in line to make the cut. However, things unravelled on the penultimate hole.

Officials had warned her group earlier that day for falling out of place. During her 8th hole, Iwai went more than 16 seconds over the limit. That led to a two-stroke penalty, putting her just outside the cutline. Given how the penalty could have been avoided, it makes this incident is even more brutal.

#3: Patrick Cantlay — Tour Championship 2025

Cantlay finished T2 at the Tour Championship, but he was so slow that the officials had to put their group on the clock. Despite this, Cantlay spent a lot of time on each shot. On the 8th hole, his group was timed; he took 38 seconds to hit his tee shot after addressing the ball. Also, on the 13th hole, he took another 23 seconds. With the fans’ patience wearing thin, many took to X to mock Cantlay’s game. One fan even wrote: “If you watch, you can actually see the grass growing under Patrick Cantlay’s feet,” reflecting just how brutal the delays were.

#4: Ina Yoon — Maybank Championship 2025

The most recent case of slow-play on the LPGA Tour came in at the Kuala Lumpur course. Ina Yoon went over the time limit on the par-4 15th. Since it was below the 16-second overtime limit, the authorities only penalized her with one stroke, turning the shot into a bogey.

However, in Yoon’s case, she made up not only for the disrupted momentum but also for her score during the final hole. With a jaw-dropping eagle, she claimed back her spot on the leaderboard as a worthy contender. Finishing with rounds of 69-68, Yoon tied for 13th. However, if she hadn’t gotten penalized for the delay, she would have finished T4 alongside marquee golfers like Lydia Ko and others. That makes the loss feel brutal anyway.

#5: Yan Liu — Amundi Evian Championship 2025

Since the LPGA Tour issued its new pace-of-play policy earlier this year, it has gone on to affect a few others. However, the only golfer since then to receive a two-stroke penalty after Cisato Iwai is Yan Liu. Liu’s group was among the slowest on the course on the second day, and her competitor, Andrea Lee, shared that they were on the clock. But matters got worse during her 16th hole.

Liu breached the 16-second overtime limit allowance, awarding her a two-stroke penalty. That turned her par on the hole into a double-bogey. She went on to finish with another bogey and a birdie, making her miss the cut by three shots at 5-over.

Slow play may seem like a small lapse in focus. But it can also alter leaderboards, test patience, and drain the excitement from the sport. These incidents portray just that, standing as a precedent for how the game shouldn’t look. In a game built on rhythm and precision, timing truly is everything.