With The European Tour Implementing A Shot Clock, Maybe It’s Time They Consider A Few Other “Modern” Sports Rules
- Updated: October 23, 2017
European Tour — The 2018 Shot Clock Masters in Austria will be the first tournament in professional golf to use a shot clock on every shot as part of the European Tour’s bid to combat slow play. In accordance with this official policy, each player in the 120-man field will have 50 seconds for the first player in a group to play any given shot, 40 seconds for subsequent players. Players will incur a one-shot penalty for each bad time incurred and these will be shown as a red card against their name on the leaderboard.
Each player will have the right to call two ‘time-outs’ during a round which will permit them twice the usually allotted time to play the shot.It is hoped the move will cut round times by around 45 minutes, reducing three-ball timings to approximately four hours, and two-balls to around three hours 15 minutes.
As reported earlier, the European Tour will be rolling out their wild shot clock idea this summer at the Austrian Open. Today, we found out that the event is conveniently being renamed the “Shot Clock Masters” thus proving if you told CEO Keith Pelley that in order to grow the game he needed to jump off a bridge, he probably would do it.Shot clocks, timeouts … this is starting to sound like a good old-fashioned basketball game.
“The 2018 Shot Clock Masters will be a fascinating addition to our schedule next year. Not only will it help us combat slow play and reduce round times, it is also further evidence of our desire to embrace innovation.” – Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour
It also got us thinking of a few other semi-realistic ideas from major professional sports that would help modernize and speed up the game. (Disclaimer: some of these probably won’t be implemented any time soon.)
Playing Through Is Mandatory – Want to really pick up the pace? First one in the house wins. Think the 72nd hole at the 2014 PGA Championship with Rory basically playing through Phil’s group. Or think NASCAR with all the drivers jockeying for position. If you ain’t first, you’re last.
Challenge Rule – If a player calls for a ruling and is not granted relief…automatic stroke penalty.
Club Substitutions – If a player pulls a club from their bag, then realizes they need to use another club, the original club pulled is removed from the bag for the remainder of the hole.
Fouling Out – If a player fails to reach the green in par or better, they will automatically receive double par for the hole.
Quiet Please Is Optional – Fans don’t want to be told to be quiet. Imagine if you had to be quiet during a foul shot for the opposing team. Wouldn’t happen in a million years … but imagine lining up a putt with this going on in the background. Now we’re talking:
Sheridan Student Section “In-Game Birth” Free Throw Distraction
Mr. Pelley, if you’re reading this…you’re welcome!
Got a rule for the European Tour to implement? We’d love to hear it no matter how absurd it might be. Comment below or email dan@twoinchesshort.com.
