After a contentious penalty against Shane Lowry, two former major champions, Henrik Stenson and Bryson DeChambeau, have expressed their concerns regarding the R&A’s handling of slow play at the Open Championship. This criticism arose after both players were approached by rules officials during the third round, highlighting the ongoing issues with timing during the tournament.
On the first day at Royal Portrush, rounds were alarmingly slow, with some groups taking nearly six hours to complete their rounds. DeChambeau noted, “First two rounds it was out of control, what I saw.” However, by Saturday, when players were paired, the pace improved to just over four hours. Stenson’s group, despite this improvement, still received warnings regarding their timing. He vented about the inconsistency of enforcement, referencing how the first round exceeded the scheduled time significantly, yet on the third day, even minor delays were scrutinized. “If you can play an hour over time scheduled in one day, then all of a sudden two minutes is of huge importance the next day, it feels a bit inconsistent to me,” he remarked.
DeChambeau echoed these sentiments, expressing confusion over the timing policies. After shooting a 68, he revealed that his pairing was warned about their pace on the 17th hole. He advocated for a system where timing could be consistently enforced throughout the entire round. “It’s very simple. It’s not difficult at all. You eventually time everybody for their whole entire round,” he suggested, adding that the implementation of such a system would benefit everyone.
Lowry, for his part, opted to steer clear of rehashing the controversy over his two-shot penalty, which stemmed from a situation during a practice swing. He mentioned receiving support from fellow players, including Jon Rahm, who acknowledged that adjustments to the rules are necessary.
The discourse around slow play and enforcement at high-profile tournaments like the Open highlights the need for consistent and fair rules. Such adjustments could enhance the experience for players and spectators alike, as the game continues to evolve.