As play unfolded during the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, an unexpected delay occurred on the 14th hole. Several turtles had wandered into a bunker from a nearby pond. Ryan Gerard’s chip shot rolled past the green near one of these slow-moving visitors. Groundskeepers had to restore the sand trap while players waited. Golf.com reported the incident as “Turtle damage.” Quite peculiar!

The timing was particularly ironic given Patrick Cantlay‘s ongoing reputation for slow play. Social media quickly connected the dots between the turtles and Cantlay’s deliberate pace. “Live look at Patrick Cantlay, one of the slowest players on tour,” posted Tour Golf with an image of the turtle at the bunker.

This isn’t the first time Cantlay has faced criticism for his methodical approach. Brooks Koepka previously called Cantlay’s group “brutally slow” during the 2023 Masters. Matt Fitzpatrick compared the experience to “hitting your head against a brick wall.” 

Cantlay currently sits at T62 on the leaderboard while dealing with both bunker troubles and persistent fan frustration. The nickname “The Human Rain Delay” seems more fitting than ever.

Cantlay has acknowledged his deliberate style but defends his approach. He maintains his groups have stayed “in position” throughout recent tournaments. Some players, including Xander Schauffele, have even come to his defense. Schauffele argues that Cantlay is quick over the ball and only takes extra time to put.

The muddy conditions at Quail Hollow have only exacerbated pace-of-play concerns. The course remains soggy after nearly an inch of rain fell Monday and Tuesday. Tournament officials controversially decided against allowing preferred lies. This decision forces players to carefully consider how mud affects ball flight. The forecast shows temperatures in the mid-80s with Saturday bringing potential 27 mph wind gusts.

The turtle incident highlights a broader issue plaguing professional golf. Slow play has become an increasingly contentious topic among fans, players, and officials. As criticism mounts, many wonder what concrete steps will be taken to address the problem.

What measures is the PGA Tour considering to address slow play?

The PGA Tour isn’t ignoring fan frustration about slow play. They’re actively testing several solutions to speed up the game. Distance-measuring devices (rangefinders) top the list of potential fixes. These tools could eliminate time spent pacing off yardages.

Field size reductions are also planned for 2026. The Players Championship will be reduced from 144 to 120 players. This change aims to create more space between groups and improve flow. Fewer players mean fewer bottlenecks.

The Tour is even considering making pace-of-play data public. Players like Patrick Cantlay could soon have their average stroke times published. This transparency would add a layer of accountability previously missing.

More significant penalties may also be on the horizon. The Korn Ferry Tour is already testing one-stroke penalties for repeated violations. These results could influence PGA Tour policy by next season.

Will these measures finally solve golf’s turtle-paced problem? Fans certainly hope so. Until then, the turtle memes will likely continue whenever Cantlay approaches his ball.