New One-Strike Penalty System Being Tested on Korn Ferry Tour

The PGA TOUR is taking significant steps to address pace of play concerns with a revised policy that introduces stricter penalties for slow play. Beginning with the 2025 LECOM Suncoast Classic, the Korn Ferry Tour will implement these changes for the remainder of its 2025 season.

Key Changes to the Pace of Play Policy

The most notable change is the immediate application of penalties:

• First “bad time” offense: One-stroke penalty (previously only a warning)
• Second “bad time” offense: Two-stroke penalty
• Third “bad time” offense: Disqualification

A “bad time” occurs when a player exceeds the allocated time to play a stroke while being timed by officials.

Timing Standards Remain Consistent

The timing standards under the revised policy maintain previous parameters:

• Standard time allowed: 40 seconds per stroke
• Extended time (50 seconds) allowed for:
  • First player to hit on par-3 holes
  • First player to hit a second shot on par-4 or par-5 holes
  • First player to hit a third shot on par-5 holes
  • First player to play around the putting green
  • First player to play on the putting green

How Timing Works

The Rules Committee will issue warnings to groups that begin falling behind or are out of position. Once warned, players may be timed individually or as a group.

• Off the putting green: Timing begins when it’s a player’s turn and they can play without interference
• On the putting green: Timing begins when it’s a player’s turn and they face no interference

Players are allowed reasonable time to find distance markers and pace off yardages, but time spent calculating distances, assessing conditions and selecting clubs counts toward their time allowance.

Response to Fan Feedback

This initiative comes directly from fan input. Through the Fan Forward Initiative, the PGA TOUR identified pace of play as one of the most important issues to golf fans. In response, they created a Speed of Play Working Group collaborating with the Player Advisory Council to address the concern.

Testing Phase Before Broader Implementation

The policy is being implemented as a trial on the Korn Ferry Tour, with data collection throughout the remainder of the 2025 season. This follows implementation on PGA TOUR Americas earlier this year.

Depending on results, the revised policy could potentially be expanded to PGA TOUR events in the future. The current testing phase concludes with the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance in October 2025.

Historical Context

Pace of play has been a longstanding discussion point in professional golf. Previous policies have been criticized for lacking meaningful enforcement mechanisms, with actual penalties rarely issued despite slow play being frequently observed.

The new approach represents one of the most substantive changes to pace of play enforcement in recent years, with the potential to significantly impact how tournaments progress if actively enforced.

Potential Impact on Professional Golf

If successful, these changes could reduce round times and improve the viewing experience for spectators both on-course and watching broadcasts. The stricter penalty structure increases the stakes for players known for deliberate pre-shot routines and careful decision-making processes.

The golf community will be watching closely to see if officials consistently apply these standards across all players, regardless of ranking or tournament standing.

Better Golf News will continue to monitor the implementation of this policy and report on its effectiveness throughout the 2025 season.