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Let’s face it. The USGA’s 10 amateur championships are played more or less in a vacuum—beyond the friends and families of the competitors, almost no one notices who wins, much less what the pace of play is. At the U.S. Open, however, the USGA has the opportunity to set a shining example for a worldwide television audience of millions.

OK, the system isn’t perfect. So what? Golf isn’t an exact science. In fact, it’s not a science at all, despite the proclivity of some tour players to treat each shot as an exhaustive experiment in physics, geometry, agronomy, meteorology, kinesthetics and psychology. Say the USGA comes down hard on a few players. What’s the downside? A whine or two from the likes of Ben Crane? I suspect they’d be drowned out by the chorus of approval from their peers. Besides, the system has a built-in appeals process, so every accused offender has the opportunity for a postround hearing.

Moreover, when it comes to pace of play, there is no reason for the USGA or R&A to be as fearful as they are of regulating equipment—imposing a limit on time will not bring a billion-dollar lawsuit from Rolex. Nor can they hide behind the other rationale they’ve used on equipment—that most amateur golfers want to keep the status quo. Most amateurs may want to hit the ball longer, but they don’t want to stay on the course longer.

Still the sense is that the USGA is taking the same timid stance as they have on the question of throttling back the golf ball: Let the PGA Tour take the lead.

Fine. Now that a sound and defensible system is in place, maybe Tim Finchem will show some courage and business sense. Seven years ago, the commissioner challenged the game’s movers and shakers to transform golf into America’s No. 1 spectator sport. Instead, television ratings are down and golf participation over the past decade has been flat at best. One big reason: Golf is slow, both playing and watching.

So commissioner, perhaps “for the good of the game” and to enhance your legacy, you’d like to step up and do what those amateurs at the USGA won’t. My guess is that Tiger Woods will applaud you for it, and once that happens, a lot of things will fall into place.

Faster pros will mean faster amateurs, making the game more appealing, especially to young people. That will translate into more rounds, more equipment sold, more lessons, more hot dogs and beers consumed. It will also mean more viewers, higher sponsor fees and fatter broadcast rights—and as we all know, those are the numbers that really matter to the Tour.

It will become crystal clear who the fastest and slowest players are. I’d suggest, Mr. Commissioner, that said list be published weekly so we all know the identities of the winners and sinners. Indeed, if I were in your shoes, I’d look at the list at the end of each year, identify the slowest 25 players on Tour, and summarily revoke their playing privileges. Do that for a few years, and my guess is that everyone will be nicely up to speed!



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