As the discourse over one issue on the DP World Tour reared its head once again, one LIV Golf ace has waded into the debate as he gave his own view on the subject in a brazen message.
Thomas Pieters of LIV Golf expressed his belief that the slow play exhibited by top players on the DP World Tour amounts to ‘cheating’, sparking a discussion on social media.
The ongoing debate regarding the pace of play in the European circuit continues to persist, as evidenced by the recent discussion within the golfing community. Mike Lorenzo Vera previously acknowledged a contentious situation surrounding the issue, referring to it as a ‘fake battle’ following his grievances at the BMW International Open last year.
Furthermore, Eddie Pepperell suggested that players were silently acknowledging financial penalties for slow play, and mentioned that a player had incurred fines exceeding £100,000 in 2023. Now, the conversation has resurfaced as Pablo Larrazabal encouraged his followers to engage in a discussion on Twitter.
Pieters inquired Pablo Larrazabal about the acceptance of slow play on the European tour, to which Romain Langasque chimed in, “That’s a great question! Maybe slow players just pay fines willingly! They pay to play slowly.”
Journalist Dimitri Martin then questioned whether players are actually paying fines voluntarily for slow play, with Langasque explaining, “When a player is too slow, they receive a ‘bad time’ warning after the 2nd one, resulting in a fine each time. For some players, it adds up by the end of the year… perhaps implementing penalty points would be more effective.”
Pieters then responded by stating: “The R&A’s rule book specifies the allowable time for each shot, so I consider their actions to be cheating.” He also addressed a user’s comment about slow play on the LIV circuit, saying: “Not really, no. The difference is the 56 player field, so slow play shouldn’t be an issue.”
Another follower then inquired further, asking: “Do the rules officials actually penalizing players make a difference?” The Belgian golfer then expressed his own view on whether punishments would be effective, stating: “I would welcome that to happen more often, yes. It would have a greater impact than just a fine.”
David Howell, the Tournament Committee chairman, recently emphasized the ongoing efforts to address slow play issues. He mentioned on social media that in addition to the existing hefty fines, players who repeatedly violate slow play rules could face a two-shot penalty on the DP World Tour this year. The committee is committed to taking a strong stance against slow play.
On the other hand, Lee Westwood criticized repeat offenders, highlighting that practice rounds are much quicker compared to actual tournaments. He expressed his delight in being able to complete nine holes in just two hours during practice rounds, emphasizing that it should be achievable for all players, regardless of age.
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