The Unassuming Moment from Tiger Woods That Might Transform Golf for Good

An unremarkable incident during the innovative Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) tournament has reignited a long-standing debate that has been a concern in the golfing community.

The matter of play speed in professional golf has been a contentious issue for many years, and it appears to be worsening as players adopt new and often peculiar techniques regarding their putting strokes.

Despite having general guidelines meant to encourage players to maintain a reasonable pace on the course, the regulations are ambiguous and nearly impossible to enforce effectively.

The last player to receive a stroke penalty for slow play on the PGA Tour was Glen Day back in 1995.

Since that time, players have occasionally faced monetary fines, yet many professionals manage to skirt punishment.

Commentators expressed their outrage over the weekend when groups at the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open took as long as five and a half hours to finish a single round.

“The policy has been ineffective for the last 31 years,” remarked George Savaricas during a Golf Channel round table discussion this week.

“The issue has significantly worsened over time and creates a competitive disadvantage. Slow players negatively affect quicker players, while the reverse is not true.”

“Slow players are aware that their only consequence is a monetary fine, which is relatively insignificant compared to tournament winnings, leading to no real motivation to change their pace.”

Fellow Golf Channel commentator Rex Hoggard described the situation as “an outrage,” criticising the Tour for its inadequate enforcement of slow play penalties.

Hoggard advocates for more immediate stroke penalties during play, rather than merely fining players modest amounts after a round or tournament concludes.

However, a potential solution may have emerged from the TGL.

The new league, conceived by the modern greats Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, takes place on indoor simulators, allowing fans to watch live in-stadium or on television without missing a single shot.

The TGL incorporates a 40-second shot clock for players, and even Woods himself was penalised for exceeding the time limit during an event this week.

Woods attempted to putt, but the clock buzzed just before he struck the ball, which ultimately missed the hole.

The timing of the incident raised questions—whether Woods deliberately ran out of time to make a statement about the PGA Tour may remain a mystery.

“I typically slow my heart rate before taking a shot, so sometimes it takes me longer than others to do that,” he later explained regarding the incident.

Australian golf legend Adam Scott, who played against Woods during the TGL event, suggested that a shot clock could work well in traditional 72-hole competitions.

“It’s a minor adjustment; Tiger received a time violation, so caution is necessary,” Scott noted.

“However, this format promotes a good tempo.” 

“The 40 seconds is about right… it provides enough time, but if you faff about, you’ll end up stressing over your shot and possibly making a mistake.”

Implementing a shot clock in traditional golf—on outdoor courses rather than simulators—would be far more challenging.

Governance bodies would need to determine whether the timing applies just on the putting green or also on tee and fairway shots.

With significant prize money and prestigious trophies at stake, rigorous policing would be essential, requiring trained officials to monitor every player across multiple holes simultaneously.

Then there’s the question of when the clock should start—does it begin when a player first approaches their ball, when they select a club, or immediately after the previous player has taken their shot?

Finding a workable solution won’t be straightforward, but it’s a matter that administrators are likely considering already.