Tour Confidential: Slow-play solutions, Scottie Scheffler’s return and more
Scottie Scheffler returns this week.
Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Justin Thomas’ letter to his fellow Tour members, solutions to the PGA Tour’s pace of play issues and Scottie Scheffler’s return to action.
Justin Thomas sent a letter to his fellow PGA Tour members asking them to give more access and insight to viewers at home via things like pre- and mid-round interviews and ways they can “better connect with fans.” While it is an important topic, do you think Thomas’ urging will work?
Justin Thomas calls PGA Tour players to action with impassioned letter
Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): Will players be more open to interviews? Probably. Will it be all that additive? Probably not. Just like the sideline interviews with football coaches before halftime, there isn’t a whole heck of a lot of insight that’s going to be gleaned from a competitor in the middle of a competition. It’ll be a plus for broadcasts, but only very slightly.
Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): Zephyr’s right, pre-round and mid-round interviews won’t be that additive to the broadcast. That said, I think there are other things pros can embrace to better connect with fans both at the course and on the broadcast. I think it starts with more players being willing to be mic’d up during a round. Netflix did this and they had great success with it for Full Swing, why not bring that to regular broadcasts? It also goes to things like interacting with fans along the ropes, not everyone is going to do this, but how many fans did Bryson DeChambeau gain when he called out the guy who stole a golf ball he threw to a kid at the PGA Championship. More of that, please.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Playing pro golf is a job for these guys, and it’s just like any job out there: some people take direction or listen to instruction better than others. I’m sure some will do it but, like Zephyr said, a couple of quick canned answers won’t be the insight viewers at home are hoping to hear. Why do so many people like Max Homa or Joel Dahmen or Bryson DeChambeau? It’s because they have a personality and aren’t afraid to show it. It’s hard to manufacture that. Nice to see Thomas and/or the Tour realizing it needs to be better, but there’s a bigger conversation to be had here and other issues that need fixing too (see below).
Speaking of Thomas, one thing people have loved about TGL (the shot clock) he recently said might not translate perfectly to speeding up play on the PGA Tour. “You have to make such drastic changes for it to be noticeable,” he said. “Pretty much a lot of the conversations end the same way; it’s like, what are we trying to accomplish here? Are rounds going to be 12 minutes faster? Are they going to be 20 minutes faster? It’s hard to realistically make a big enough difference where people are like, wow, this is great.” This came just days before CBS analyst Dottie Pepper blasted slow play during the final round of the Farmers on Saturday. This topic has obviously been beaten to death. Will we ever get anywhere here? What needs to happen?
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Melton: They sure better figure out a way to speed up play, because the current pace is untenable. Fans don’t want (nor do they have the free time) to spend nearly six hours a day watching golf on their couch each weekend. It’s time the PGA Tour takes drastic steps to speed up the pace — or else risk losing out on even more eyeballs. The MLB proved drastic measures can be successful when they underwent a rules overhaul in 2023, including a pitch clock to speed up the game. It’s about time golf follows suit.
Hirsh: I hate to say this, because I hated this move, but thank god next week’s Pebble event is not a full pro-am anymore. Those could have been six-plus-hour rounds on the weekend. Thomas is right, there are plenty of guys taking much less than 45 seconds to hit a shot in competition and it still takes so long. This shouldn’t even be a plea, but why is the PGA Tour not putting more guys on the clock and issuing penalties? You could give players fines, but what does $20k mean when you’re playing for $20 million purses? Tighten the belts and start issuing shots because there’s no reason I can’t get around my home course in three-and-a-half hours with three amateurs and pros can’t get around in five.
Berhow: The guys have to realize it hurts the product and they need the product to be watchable to make money off it. We can definitely get more strict on enforcing penalties, but it’s also very complicated. There are so many factors that go into slow rounds — too many groups, reachable par-5s, tricky rulings, etc. But there’s also this: playing fast is a skill. It should be taught at a young age and something you continue to work on as you get older. Baseball realized it was losing viewers and has adapted. Golf needs to do the same even if it might seem extreme.
Netflix announced that season three of its “Full Swing” docuseries will debut Feb. 25, 2025. What’s your interest level in season three? And are there any changes you are hoping to see this time around?
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Melton: My interest in the show has significantly waned since the first season premiered in 2023. It’s a show geared toward casual fans, and as a “die-hard,” there isn’t much the show tells me that I don’t already know. I’ll throw it on in the background while I do other tasks throughout the day, but it’s not something I’ll be locked into every night.
Hirsh: I’m saying this more often than I’d like, but Zephyr’s right again. I’ll watch, but I’m not as invested as I was for the first season. Only thing I’m looking forward to is Scheffler’s inclusion after he was mostly absent the first time.
Berhow: Agreed. Also need something from Tiger. And give me house tours for these guys, MTV-cribs style.
Scottie Scheffler is set to return at this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, ending a month-long absence after surgery. Quick, make your own Vegas line for his 2025 season. What are you setting his season over/under win total at?
Scottie Scheffler to return from injury at Pebble Beach
Melton: I’ll go with 4.5. Would it be a letdown compared to last year? Yes. Would it still be a heck of a season? Also yes.
Hirsh: 3.5. We have to acknowledge how ridiculous his season was last year. That kind of level isn’t sustainable, but he’s still better than everyone else. Three or four wins is still an outstanding year.
Berhow: I’ll go 4.5, and I’d smash that over.
Bonus question: What’s your boldest Scottie Scheffler prediction for 2025?
Melton: He doesn’t win a major in 2025.
Hirsh: He goes back to a blade putter for at least one round.
Berhow: He wins two majors this year (and the Masters won’t be one of them). Also, I’m predicting he won’t get arrested.
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