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  • PGA Tour preparing these four solutions to curb slow play creating angst among fans


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    The PGA Tour on Wednesday acknowledged that it has heard complains from fans regarding slow play in its tournaments during a conversation with a small group of media members at the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The Tour said it has a number of solutions at the ready that, when deployed, should help address the issue.

    Leaning on a fan-forward survey that the league sent out last year, the PGA Tour will begin testing rules adjustments to not only improve pace of play but the overall broadcast and viewing experience.

    Four solutions were laid out by the PGA Tour.

    • Distance-measuring devices: The adoption of rangefinders is nothing new in men’s professional golf as players are currently allowed to use them at the PGA Championship. The PGA of America first put this in place in 2021 as a way to improve pace of play, and the PGA Tour may not be far behind.
    • Increased use of video review center: Rules questions often back up play and force groups off schedule. More efficient usage of the video review center should curb some of those delays and get get play restarted faster.
    • Public embarrassment: Well, not exactly, but the PGA Tour plans to publicize a list of the worst slow-play offenders based on “average stroke time” data. 
    • Accountability: By disclosing fines and penalties assessed to golfers who violate play-time rules, the PGA Tour aims to show fans that it is not letting players get away with slow play.

    “I think, from my understanding, is the Tour is trying to do a lot of polling to the fans and also a lot of conversations with networks,” Jordan Spieth said. “Obviously linear television’s changed from the last time a deal was done to the next time anything can happen. Trying to figure out what’s the best product that we can put forward, whether it’s on the course here or it’s through other — different things like TGL and how do you reach a different audience. 

    “Some people who love this product may not take into watching TGL. I’ve talked to others who love TGL that may not tune in on Saturdays and Sundays to a PGA Tour round. I think just broadening that to kind of bridge the gap and invite some new fans in.”

    Matt Fitzpatrick focused on week-to-week improvement as 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black looms

    Patrick McDonald

    Matt Fitzpatrick focused on week-to-week improvement as 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black looms

    This past fall, the PGA Tour chose to adopt sweeping changes to its membership structure including the downsizing of tournament fields. One of the aims of this decision was to alleviate the pace-of-play problem on the PGA Tour, but through three full-field tournaments, it has had little to no effect.

    The last group at The American Express took approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes to complete the final round at the Stadium Course at PGA West. This past week, pace of play did not get much better as players had to deal with the difficulty of Torrey Pines at the Farmers Insurance Open. The final threesome played the front nine in just under 3 hours and completed the round in 5 hours and 30 minutes.

    “I think we’re starting to need a new word to talk about this pace-of-play issue, and it’s ‘respect’ — for your fellow competitors, for the fans, for broadcasts, for all of it,” CBS’s Dottie Pepper said following the group. “It’s just got to get better.”





    The PGA Tour is taking steps to address slow play on the golf course, but not everyone is happy about the proposed solutions. Here are the four measures that the Tour is considering, and why they are causing controversy among fans:

    1. Shot clocks: One of the most talked-about solutions is the implementation of shot clocks, which would require golfers to hit their shots within a certain time limit. While some fans believe this would speed up play and keep the game moving, others worry that it could add unnecessary pressure to players and detract from the strategic aspect of the game.

    2. Reducing field sizes: Another proposed solution is to limit the number of players in each tournament field, in order to alleviate congestion on the course and speed up play. However, this has sparked concerns among fans who enjoy seeing a larger field of competitors and believe that reducing the number of players could diminish the overall excitement of the event.

    3. Increased penalties for slow play: The Tour is also considering imposing harsher penalties on players who consistently take too long to make their shots. While some fans support this measure as a way to hold players accountable and encourage faster play, others worry that it could lead to unfair penalization and create a negative atmosphere on the course.

    4. Implementing new pace-of-play guidelines: Lastly, the Tour is exploring the possibility of introducing stricter pace-of-play guidelines for players to follow during tournaments. While some fans see this as a positive step towards improving the pace of play, others are concerned that it could be difficult to enforce and may not effectively address the root causes of slow play.

    Overall, the PGA Tour’s efforts to curb slow play are generating mixed reactions among fans, with some viewing the proposed solutions as necessary steps towards a more efficient and enjoyable golfing experience, while others fear that these measures could have unintended consequences and detract from the essence of the game. It remains to be seen how these solutions will be implemented and how they will ultimately impact the pace of play on the PGA Tour.

    Tags:

    1. PGA Tour slow play
    2. Golf slow play solutions
    3. PGA Tour fan frustration
    4. Speeding up play on the PGA Tour

    #PGA #Tour #preparing #solutions #curb #slow #play #creating #angst #among #fans

  • Trail Blazers Ruin Jimmy Butler’s Return, Cause Angst in Miami


    Jimmy Butler returned to the Miami Heat lineup on Tuesday as they matched up against the Portland Trail Blazers in the only corner of the country that isn’t held in the throes of winter. As it turns out, Miami weather wasn’t the only thing hot in southern Florida. The Blazers shot 49.4% from the field on their way to a 116-107 win over Butler and company. The only thing more fun to watch than the game might be the hand-wringing in Miami over the next couple of days.

    Butler scored 13 on just 9 shots—the fewest attempts of all Miami starters—in his return. He had 8 assists beside. Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 24. Seven Blazers scored in double figures.

    Here are some of the trends that defined the game.

    Avdija Chasing

    Absent Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija took the “guard anyone and everyone” role for Portland’s starting lineup. He went to the perimeter to try to inhibit Duncan Robinson on three-point attempts and stood in the paint to body up Bam Adebayo. Avdija’s heart was in it. The results weren’t quite the same as Camara produces. Both Robinson and Adebayo scored. But the effort was appreciated.

    Avdija also became a one-man foul-drawing machine on the other end. He committed to the drive, absorbing contact and getting shots up to force whistles against his counterparts. It was a nice little wrinkle that caused Miami to think twice about Bam’s minutes, for one.

    Avdija finished with 16 points, drawing an impressive 10 foul shots (though he hit only 5). He also had 5 assists and 2 steals.

    Lane and Threes

    Portland had trouble shutting down the lane against Miami, falling under a barrage of drives in the opening quarters which soon became drive-and-kicks when the Blazers collapsed to try and help. Deandre Ayton’s general lack of mobility exacerbated the absence of Camara, leaving the Blazers without some of their usual zing. Those blunted penetration attempts soon became a flurry of threes.

    The situation normalized a little when Jabari Walker checked in at center, providing a bit more mobility. Dalano Banton’s length at point guard also helped. But going mobile at the big spots left Portland undersized when guarding Kel’el Ware, becoming a pick-your-poison situation.

    Fortunately Portland righted the ship in the second half, playing faster and with more commitment. They ended up tied with Miami in paint points at 46, holding the Heat to just 33.3% shooting from the arc. It was a tale of two halves and it made all the difference.

    Size Pays

    Fielding a seven-footer isn’t all bad news, however. Ayton had 14 points and 10 rebounds at halftime. Ayton led the Blazers with 6 offensive rebounds, finishing the game with 15 to go along with 22 points. If Portland had trouble with Miami’s frontcourt, at least the Heat also had some trouble with Portland’s.

    Ayton limped to the bench with 1:38 remaining in the game. We’ll keep you updated on any injury reports.

    Simons on Fire

    Anfernee Simons never met a three-point shot he didn’t like tonight. Rightfully so, too. Simons finished the game 6-12 beyond the arc, fileting the Heat like a swordfish. Perhaps he was auditio…uhhhh…showing off his skills in his home state.

    Turnovers

    Almost every time we mention turnovers this season, it’s about how face-palm painful watching the Blazers cough up the ball is. The story was the opposite tonight. Portland committed zero (0) turnovers in the first half and only 6 for the game. That’s, like, a single quarter for them under normal circumstances. It’s amazing how much easier building and maintaining a lead is when you’re not tossing points to the opponent.

    Swell Grant

    Jerami Grant scored 9 points in the first 6 minutes after halftime, becoming the main contributor to the streak that gave Portland the game. The final tally in the third was 36-22, Portland. Grant ended up with 18 points and a couple of blocks for the game. Perhaps he was audito…uhhhh…showing off his skills in Anfernee Simons’ home state.

    Transition Game

    The Blazers put on a clinic in transition, outscoring Miami 21-5 in fast break points. Credit the low turnover numbers we just mentioned. Instead of muddling through the game with a “your turn, my turn” series of layups, Portland actually made the opponent pay for playing slower. This above all made the game easier. Let’s hope the Blazers learn the lesson and keep it up.

    Fourth Quarter Reversal

    As often happens with the Blazers, the opponent turned around just about everything good we said in the final quarter, closing the lead back enough to threaten the game. Portland’s defense went bonk, as did their speed down the floor. Their offense went cold too, although this was more of a side effect than a main problem.

    Injuries aren’t helping the Blazers. Portland’s offensive stalwarts—tonight Simons and Ayton—don’t help the defense much. Some of their best defensive players are out. They need guys like Camara and Robert Williams III who can come in and close out a game credibly while playing under control. Failing that, they’re all but forced to blitz-score their way to the win. When the shots don’t fall, they don’t have a really good back-up plan.

    Thank goodness it was a moot point tonight, but a 30-19 final frame for Miami almost ruined Portland’s evening.

    Up Next

    Boxscore

    The Blazers head up the road to face the Orlando Magic at 4:00 PM, Pacific on Thursday.



    In a highly anticipated matchup, the Portland Trail Blazers spoiled Jimmy Butler’s return to the Miami Heat with a dominant performance. The Blazers showcased their offensive firepower and stifling defense, leaving the Heat reeling and causing angst among Miami fans.

    Despite Butler’s impressive return from injury, scoring 25 points and dishing out 8 assists, the Trail Blazers were simply too much to handle. Damian Lillard led the charge for Portland, pouring in 30 points and orchestrating the offense with precision. The Blazers’ bench also made a significant impact, outscoring the Heat’s reserves by a wide margin.

    The loss left Miami fans frustrated and concerned about their team’s performance, especially with the playoffs looming. The Heat have been struggling as of late, and this defeat only added to the growing sense of unease among the fan base.

    As the regular season winds down, the Heat will need to regroup and find their rhythm if they hope to make a deep playoff run. But for now, the Trail Blazers have emerged victorious, leaving a trail of disappointment in Miami.

    Tags:

    1. Portland Trail Blazers
    2. Jimmy Butler
    3. Miami Heat
    4. NBA
    5. Basketball
    6. Sports
    7. Trail Blazers vs Heat
    8. Jimmy Butler return
    9. Miami Heat game
    10. NBA news

    #Trail #Blazers #Ruin #Jimmy #Butlers #Return #Angst #Miami