Slow solutions, the return of Scheffler and more

Check in every week for the unvarnished views of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by joining us in the US at @Golf_Com. This week, we discuss Justin Thomas’ book on tourism, the PGA’s speed-of-play solutions and Scottie Scheffler’s Return to Action.

Justin Thomas has sent a letter to some members of the PGA Tour asking them to provide more access and insight to viewers at home with things like pre-course interviews and intermediate courses. ” While it’s an important topic, do you think Thomas’ appeal will work?

Zefyr Melto, Contributing Editor (@Zephyrmelton): Will the players be open to negotiations? Maybe. Will it be all of the below? Probably not. Like Sideline interviews with football coaches before halftime, there isn’t a whole heck of a lot of insight to be had on the competition between contests. It will be a plus for streaming, but it will be very slow.

Jack Hirsh, Associate Equind editor (@jr_hirshey): The right of Zefyr, pre-conversation and round-up will not be that addition to the suspect. That said, I think there are some great things that can better engage fans both in the classroom and on the air. I think it starts with a lot of players who are willing to be small during the round. Netflix is ​​doing this and they were very successful with it so it’s full speed ahead, why not bring that to mainstream streaming? It depends on things like communicating with fans on the ropes, but not everyone will do this, but how many fans did Bryson Dehumbea win when he called out the guy who stole the golf ball and threw it at the kid at the PGA Championship. Please, please.

Josh Berhow, Managing Editor (@Josh_berhow): Playing Pro Golf is a job for these guys, and it’s like any job out there: Some people take direction or follow orders better than others. I’m sure others will but, like Zefyr, a few quick answers won’t be what discerning viewers at home are hoping to hear. Why do so many people like Max Homa or Joel Dahmen or Bryson Dehembeau? It’s because they have personality and aren’t afraid to show it. It’s hard to do that. It’s good to see Thomas and/or the Tour seeing as it needs to improve, but there’s a big discussion to be had here and some issues that need to be addressed (see below).

Speaking of Thomas, one thing people liked about the TGL (shot clock) they just yelled out is that it translates perfectly to getting faster on the PGA Tour. “You have to make big changes to make them visible,” he said. “A lot of conversations end up the same way; It’s like, what are we trying to accomplish here? Are cycles going to be 12 minutes faster? Are they going to be 20 minutes faster? It’s hard to really make a big enough difference where people are like, wow, this is great.” This comes just days before analyzing CBS Analyst Peppeppele Slowed Play during Saturday’s final farm round. This article has apparently been beaten to death. Will we ever get there? What needs to happen?

Melton: They sure better find a way to speed up play, because the current speed isn’t noticeable. Fans don’t want to (and don’t have the free time) to spend nearly six hours a day watching golf in their beds every weekend. It’s time for the PGA Tour to take big steps to speed up the pace — or else risk losing a lot of eyeballs. MLB Molded Steps It’s time for golf to follow suit.

Hirsch: I hate to say this, because I hated this move, but thank God next week’s Pebble event is not a perfect place. Those might be six-hour cycles—once a weekend. Thomas is right, they have a lot of guys who take less than 45 seconds to beat the competition and still take that long. This shouldn’t be a plea, but why doesn’t the PGA tour put more guys on the clock and issue penalties? You can fine the players, but what does $20k mean when you’re playing for $20 million purses? Tighten the belts and start taking out the gun because there is no reason that I can’t round my home study in three and a half hours with three amateurs and benefits can’t round five.

Berhow: Guys should see the damage to the product and need the product to be known to make money from it. We can certainly get strict penalties, but it’s also very complicated. There are so many factors that go into slow rounds – multiple teams, learned principles, tricky decisions, etc. But there’s also this: Fast play is a skill. It should be taught at an early age and something you continue to work on as you grow. Baseball realized it had lost its audience and changed. Golf needs to do the same or it may seem redundant.

Netflix has announced that three years of its “full” docuseries will be fixed on February 25, 2025. And is there any change you hope to see now?

Melton: My interest in the show has been building since its first year in 2023. It’s a show prepared by regular fans, and like the show “There’s no show I can’t. I’ll put it on the back burner while I do other things throughout the day, but it’s not something I’ll be locked into every night.

Hirsch: I say it more often than I’d like, but zepharyr is zefyr’s right. I will watch, but I haven’t reported the money since I was in the first season. The only thing I’m looking forward to is the inclusion of Scheffler after the first report.

Berhow: Allowed. And you need something from the tiger. And I gave these people house tours, MTV-CRIBS style.

ScotTie Scheffler is set to return to this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM, ending a month-long absence from surgery. Quickly, make your line to Vegas for his 2025 season. What does he put his time over / under Win Total at?

Melton: I’ll go with 4,5. Would it be an acceptable thing compared to last year? Yes. Could it still be a heck of a season? And yes.

The hersh: 3.5. We have to admit how funny his time was last year. That kind of level is unsustainable, but he’s still better than everyone else. Three or four wins is still a great year.

Berhow: I will go for 4,5, and I was hitting that.

Bonus Question: What is your most daring prediction for SkootHler?

Melton: He – win the biggest in 2025.

Hirsch: You go back to the putter blade for at least one round.

Berhow: He wins two majors this year (and the Kings won’t be one of them). Also, I predict that he will not be arrested.