Tour News
Guan revisited: Hideki Matsuyama hit with slow play penalty
For the second time at the the majors in 2013, a player was assessed a penalty for slow play. The offending party: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who, after multiple warnings, was penalized on the 17th hole of his third round at The Open Championship.
Matsuyama and playing partner Johnson Wagner first faced the timekeeper’s disapproving glare on the 15th hole. At that point, the players were 15 minutes behind. The group ahead of them (the not exactly young and sprite) Tom Lehman and Mark O’Meara, were significantly outpacing the two at the time, according to the R&A.
After being notified that they were on the clock on the 15th green, Matsuyama had another “bad time” (2 minutes, 12 seconds behind, reportedly) while playing his approach to the 17th hole and was assessed a one-stroke penalty.
The penalty gave the young native of Japan a bogey 6 on the 17th hole, and he eventually finished the day six shots behind leader Lee Westwood.
Of course, there have been suggestions that Matsuyama, a native of Japan, didn’t understand the situation. However, David Rickman, the R&A’s rules official, didn’t give much credence to such sentiments.
“I can confirm that the player was fully aware of the circumstances that he was in,” Rickman said.
One player who did understand the situation and didn’t agree with the penalty was playing partner Johnson Wagner, who took particular issue with the fact that Matsuyama was assessed the penalty on a hole (the 17th) where his drive had struck a spectator, which slowed the group’s progress.
“I don’t like slow play either but given his position in the tournament, and given the shot he faced on 17, I don’t think he took too long,” Wagner said. “I think it’s tragic and I think the R&A should use better judgment in the penalising of it.”
Tragic or not, the R&A in general, and David Rickman in particular, have spoken, and a second player has been docked a stroke at one of golf’s most significant tournaments this year.
Will slow play play a role in the final Round of The Open Championship? Surely, times will tell.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Augustine
Jul 25, 2013 at 9:27 am
I think the PGA tour should have “timeboards” at every tee just to show whether a group is behind… that would be a fair way to time everyone, not just those “judged” to be slow then placed on the clock…
But, this makes too much sense, so the R&A will not do it…
yo!
Jul 23, 2013 at 2:23 pm
At the professional level, either put everyone on the clock and enforce it equally rather than haphazardly. Or give the players the option of calling the clock on another player. I’ve been to a couple of tournaments and have timed how long the pros take to make a shot. It is slow … but at least no one gets called for it so no one complains that it is unfair.
Norm
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:55 pm
That one shot may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, but the fact is that it was an entire round that was slow. How do you possibly fall 15 minutes behind the group in front of you? That’s abysmal. A twosome of professional golfers shooting around par for 18 holes should play in under 4 hours. 15 minutes is a significant amount of time when put in context. Also, the articale does not mention that there was a Japanese speaking rules official with the group, so “he didn’t understand” was not the case.
Chris
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:14 am
correction Johnson not Jonathan (can’t even blame my spell check!).
Chris
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:13 am
This penalty was a mistake. Jonathan got it right, the R&A should known better. But of course if you look at their handling of the rule book over the years you can tell they are out of touch.
tonyk
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:57 am
Maybe it’s just a coincidence that only young Asian players actually got penalties by slow play.
purkjason
Jul 24, 2013 at 10:40 am
I was thinking the exact same thing tonyk. I think Ben Crane should get a penalty stroke for almost every hole he has ever played on tour and the pre shot routine of Keegan Bradley takes 2 mins. in itself, not to mention it’s annoying with all the club spinning. I think the R&A are penalizing the Asian Players due to them improving at a rapid pace. Just look at the LPGA and it’s dominated by the Asian Women and with the help of Greg Norman the young Asian Players will only become better quickly. And the Asians have more pride and dedication than the Americans so they deserve all that comes from hard work. And yes, I’m an American making these comments.