Irony: Failure To Penalize Slow Players Inflicting Image Damage

Tim Finchem issued his indirect ultimatum long ago but the refusal to penalize slow players all because Commissioner Sensitivity doesn't want bad press, is actually creating bad press for slow players.

Kevin Na was heckled by a fan Saturday (show on NBC), but it was the self-indulgent Andrew Loupe who was pummeled by NBC's announce team for his Valero Open antics Saturday. (Johnny Miller: "If everyone on tour played like him, I would stop commentating.") Loupe took as many as 11 practice swings before one shot, and Roger Maltbie resorted to counting them, and not because he found it enjoyable.

By allowing players like Na and Loupe to develop into turtles who know they won't be penalized, the act of intentionally not enforcing the PGA Tour's pace of play rules has led to the golfers in question becoming known for their tremendously slow play instead of their tremendous talent. As the issue continues to rear its head in situations like Saturday's Valero where a leader is put under the, gulp, loupe, there eventually becomes a question about the integrity of the PGA Tour when so many people see a rule abused and the rule never enforced.

These are all issues for Commissioner Monahan to clean up in 2017, because Tim Finchem has made his views clear.

For some light reading on the matter, Australian Aron Price called out the NBC crew for saying that Loupe was in position and Billy Horschel chimed in on the discussion with fans.

And a search on Twitter of "Loupe slow" turns up a long list of Tweets lamenting Saturday's pace.