Star names in bid to see end to slow play

Using the line “While we’re young” from the character played by Rodney Dangerfield, the light-hearted series of public service announcements was launched by the USGA yesterday ahead of the US Open at Merion.

“Pace of play is a big issue,” said Woods, who is seen in the advert being told to hurry up by a group of children before missing a putt on a crazy golf course. “Rounds of golf take too long and no-one enjoys it.

“‘While we’re young’ is part of the golfing vocabulary and Caddyshack is iconic in our sport. This campaign is light-hearted but it also shows that we need to pick up the pace of play.”

Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang was controversially given a one-shot penalty for slow play at this year’s Masters, but USGA president Glen Nager believes the players do not bear sole responsibility for slow play in the professional game.

“At the professional level there are actually pace of play policies in effect,” Nager said. “And if the players in a professional event are playing within their pace of play rules, they’re fulfilling their responsibility in the event that they’re playing in.

“It’s the people who put the event on that have to set that policy. It’s the people who put that event on who have to do the kind of things that we have done in anticipation of this championship to keep them from being delayed.”

To that effect, the USGA have amended their policy for this week so that all members of a group must have a ball in play before the group ahead is off the green or they will be considered out of position.

Previously, only one player needed to have a ball in play for the group not be out of position, which triggers the timing process which can eventually lead to a penalty being assessed.