As a decade-long member of the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council (PAC), Justin Thomas has spent years discussing solutions to professional golf’s persistent pace of play problem. While an amateur round of 18 holes typically takes about 4.5 hours, professional rounds often exceed five hours. The difference is clear: one group plays for enjoyment and personal achievement, while the other competes for their livelihood under significant pressure.
For years, the idea of introducing a shot clock has been suggested as a way to speed up play on the PGA Tour. However, implementing such a rule presents numerous challenges. Questions arise: How would it be enforced? What would the time limit be? Should the time limit adapt based on external factors like course conditions or tournament pressure?
The introduction of a 40-second shot clock in the new TGL indoor golf league has provided an intriguing case study. Players in the TGL, including Thomas, have embraced the system, and fans have responded positively. However, as Thomas pointed out after leading his Atlanta Drive team to a 4-0 victory over New York, the TGL’s controlled environment significantly simplifies the concept.
“In indoor golf, the turf is consistent, the ball reacts predictably on the greens, there’s no wind, and yardages are calculated for you,” Thomas explained. These conditions eliminate many variables that professionals face on outdoor courses, making the TGL’s shot clock far easier to implement.
When asked about applying a similar rule to the PGA Tour, Thomas expressed skepticism. “This is my 10th year on tour, and I’ve been on the PAC a lot of years. We’ve talked about pace of play all 10 years,” he said. “The thing is, you have to make such drastic changes for it to be noticeable. A lot of the conversations end the same way: What are we trying to accomplish here? Are rounds going to be 12 minutes faster? Are they going to be 20 minutes faster?”
Thomas’s remarks highlight the complexity of addressing pace of play on the PGA Tour. Unlike indoor golf, outdoor play involves unpredictable factors such as wind, terrain, and weather, all of which require careful consideration by players. While fans may desire shorter rounds, professional golfers must balance speed with accuracy and strategy in high-stakes competitions.
The shot clock in the TGL has shown promise, but whether it can be effectively adapted to the PGA Tour remains uncertain. For now, Thomas and the PAC continue to grapple with the nuances of speeding up play without compromising the integrity of the game.
