All players on the PGA Tour are likely to have to adjust their game over the coming months as it was revealed that there are to be significant changes regarding the amount of time that players will be able to take weighing up their shots. The tougher penalties will come into effect in the week following the Masters.
The changes won’t be anything new to players that are currently on the European Tour, as a one-shot penalty has been in full effect throughout the ongoing competition in Abu Dhabi. This penalty is put on a player after two violations of taking too long with their shots.
PGA Tour Matching European Tour
It only seemed a matter of time before the PGA followed suit and matched the new rules by the European Tour. They have allowed the players to have a grace period of three months to get used to the new rules before they are officially brought in following the Masters in April. The quicker pace of play has been something that many of the top players have been crying out for, and will certainly ensure that fans remain invested in the major competitions.
The Tour have also revealed that fines will not be as lenient as they once were, and they will be increased for repeat offenders. There will also be a ‘slow list’ implemented, with players on this list having to adhere to the rules more than others. If they are repeat offenders, then they will be struck with harsher penalty strokes.
One player that will certainly be happy with the introduction of the new rules will be Rory McIlroy. The FedExCup winner bemoaned the fact that slow players were ruining the spectacle in the summer last year. He said the sport needed to get quicker and even suggested that smaller fields may have been the way forward.
Open Champion Eyes Ryder Cup Route
Shane Lowry may be teammates with Rory McIlroy later on in the year if the former is to achieve his goal and secure a place on the Ryder Cup team. Lowry has reiterated that the event later in the year is the one that he is desperately trying to get involved in. The Open champion has started this season the same way as he did last, by taking part in the competition in Abu Dhabi.
He went onto achieve his fourth professional win this time last year, but a lot happened before the end of that season. It was his best-ever showing, as he went on to win a first major. However, he has admitted that this season, he has even bigger goals and wants to be an important factor in a big win for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup. If he can continue that form that saw him achieve a top 20 finish in the world rankings, then he will certainly be a guaranteed player on the team for the Ryder Cup in the United States.
