Slow play in golf is a major pet peeve that can quickly turn a fun round into a frustrating experience, and we think a lot of you will agree with that. When a golfer takes forever to hit a shot, it can hold up the entire group which can evidently cause delays and disrupt the flow of the game. Whether it’s excessive practice swings, overthinking every shot, or spending too much time searching for a lost ball, slow play can be super annoying for fellow golfers and make it hard for them to enjoy their own game. Well, what if we say there’s a solution?

The latest Drop Zone podcast on Spotify explored the impact of shot clocks on pro golf by using golfer’s experience in Tiger Woods’ TGL league as an example.  “It is absolutely insane that we do not do this in professional golf already,” one of the hosts exclaimed. The podcast hosts echoed this sentiment, with one noting that “It felt so fast… I was like, oh shoot, I got to rush over there because it goes by very quickly.” Another host added, “It’s almost like anxiety-producing… it’s like, all right, get it off.”

We all know that the PGA Tour’s trying to tackle this but with their current approach we’re stuck with a Pace of Play Policy that’s not doing much to speed things up. That’s why the idea of a shot clock implemented in Tiger Woods’s TGL league is so impressive. And if you don’t live under a rock you already know that in TGL, players have 40 seconds to take their shot and if they go over it’s a one-stroke penalty which really is a no-nonsense way to address slow play. Even players like Rickie Fowler are on board, saying “shot clock, no question” when asked if there’s a TGL rule that could translate to traditional golf.

PGA, Golf Herren The Open Championship – Third Round Jul 20, 2024 Ayrshire, SCT Rickie Fowler at the 12th hole during the third round of the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon. Ayrshire Royal Troon SCT, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJackxGruberx 20240720_sns_usa_00052_1Fowler and the other players had no problem adjusting to the shot clock, which makes you wonder, why not bring it to the PGA Tour? We mean, if it’s working seamlessly in the TGL league, there’s no reason to think why the shot clock won’t work in PGA Tour events.

What do other golfers think about TGL’s shot clock?

The debut match of TGL was a real eye-opener, especially when it came to the pace of play. The 40-second shot clock really seemed to make a difference, and the golfers who participated were definitely impressed. Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open Champion, was surprised by how quickly the game unfolded, saying “I couldn’t believe how quickly everything happened.” Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, agreed, noting that “It was much faster than I thought… I just wish that was real golf as well.”

Other golfers, like Max Homa, who’ll be playing alongside Tiger Woods in Match 2, loved the energy and urgency that the shot clock brought to the game. Homa noted that the shot clock created a sense of excitement and anticipation, making the game feel more dynamic and engaging. Ludvig Aberg, a member of The Bay Golf Club, also enjoyed the electric atmosphere, saying “It’s cool playing in a stadium.” The fact that the golfers were able to adapt so quickly to the shot clock suggests that it could be a great addition to the sport. All in all, it seems like TGL’s shot clock is a hit with the golfers, and it could be just what the sport needs to shake things up and make it more exciting for fans.