The fans have spoken! Here's what they want from the PGA Tour | Golf Channel Podcast

[@jaydee5447]

Lav so close to peril and one false step from a catastrophic, life altering outcome just to bring us this podcast reveals his dedication to his craft. People who think golf journalism is not dangerous have no idea. I mean that’s a twenty foot drop into sand three feet to his left. One swat at a passing bee, one gust of wind from the wrong direction and this potentially becomes a one man podcast. This just oozes dedication to one’s craft. Be safe out there this season fellas. 🙏🏻

[@ryanlavnerGC]

GOAT reply

[@BMF395]

CBS needs to improve their telecast immensely. Joel Dahmen, one of the most popular players on tour, made back to back birdies last week to get his first top 10 in forever. CBS didn't show any of it. The camera doesn't leave the leaders down the stretch. I don't need to see Harris English walking down the fairway.

[@redsharpiemarker]

people are finding that stuff like youtube golf is superior content to live television. i think there’s a lot to learn from that. it’s almost more entertaining to watch say grant horvat or the bryan bros bringing in jon rahm and phil as special guests for an 18 hole match where every shot is condensed into an hour long span with great dialogue in between. i can binge that stuff all day whereas i just get sleepy trying to follow 5 hours of tournament coverage. it just has a more authentic, personable, behind the scenes feel. there are ways to make tv viewers feel closer to the event in a similar way. u can have on screen personalities showing the grounds from their perspective and following players almost like a live vlogger or a news anchor reporting from the scene. it shouldn’t be so focused on in booth broadcasters with occasional interviews here and there.

[@Oahugolfguy]

It’s incredible people on you tube are producing better tv than the biggest tv networks. It’s Embarrassing really.

[@Sean_Farmer]

I'm happy the pace of play issue, especially on the greens, is something they seem to be looking at. Any serious golfer, especially the lower handicap ones, know that there are some really tough green reads out there. The difference between us and the tour pros is we don't have a caddie who's studied the greens to help us determine the line and pace. For example, I understand when you're having a great round and in contention taking an extra 20-30 seconds on a 15 footer. But when I see someone on day 3 who's on hole 15, who's 13 shots behind, taking extra time on an uphill 4 footer...only to miss it anyway, that's frustrating.

[@ANTPS32CREWCHIEF]

Caddies carry the bag. They should not be able to step foot onto a golf green nor read putts for pros. That is what M-Wed is for.

[@AussieBob999]

The PGA is being forced to address a problem that they have ignored for a long time. The Players and Media have not given a rat's rear end about the TV audience for decades. It is LIV Golf that has shown how they should manage the game and the media - PGA is only doing what they are now because of LIV. The players taking a long time to play is one thing, but how about the media giving a 10 minute monologue about how their commentators think the day's play is going to go. Having been there myself, there is no doubt that Tiger is unbelievable to watch play live. But the TV audience is sick of seeing every one of his shots when he is 10 over and not in with a remote chance to win. The PGA needs to manage and direct them to do what the TV Audience likes and wants. Stop over-focusing on those at the course - they are 10s of thousands - it is 100s of thousands and even millions (Masters etc.) that watch it on TV. That is who the real fan is and the Media and Players are not catering to them properly (unlike LIV).

[@edwardcreighton2638]

I will be at home in Northern Ireland for The Open at Portrush, fingers xx for Rory. Time slipping by, hope Rory can win one more major, any major. Fantastic pod per usual.

[@ScottGrass]

Signature events, playoffs, majors and waste management are the ones to watch. It’s pretty simple, the viewers can’t get excited about 48 tournaments a year. Same reason I don’t watch much baseball until August, it’s why no one watches NFL preseason. They gotta speed up regular season events or switch it up somehow.

[@josephboza7448]

The problem is when the superstars show up that is when the media seems to care the most. They dont have to speed up the tournaments. The media has to care about the other tournaments. The same superstars that play slow as molasses some weeks.

[@Oahugolfguy]

I think Hawaii and the west coast are always worth a watch. Maybe not Palm Springs for a long time now. Also agree with many that the farmers was a snooze. Tough because we have had great fields at the farmers. Sad. And now we lose riv for the year. Super sad.

[@josephboza7448]

@@Oahugolfguy I think thats why Farmers was a weak field. A lot of the superstars didnt want to get beat up twice in 3 weeks. . I love Hawaii and the west coast too. It feels like the media only cares when the big boys show up.

[@Oahugolfguy]

@@josephboza7448 also the fans. There are not enough big names on the pga tour. They absolutely have to speed up tournaments. Players have evolved more and more to play slower and slower as had happened in baseball. Both sports were played way faster in the past. Baseball got them back on a good pace. Now golf has to do the same. It is absolutely necessary. There’s other things the production needs to do but players need to play faster for the fans on site mostly.

[@adambarnes4191]

This, "the basic dna of the PGA Tour is intense competition and a shot clock removes that" is nonsense. The NFL and NBA are fiercly competitive and have shot clocks. It ADDS competition. The best players can manage the clock and pressure the best. Why protect golf pros. Lets see the slow players deal with the clock ticking.

[@josephboza7448]

#asklav Recently the LPGA Interim Commissioner Liz Moore announced that the Fir Se Ri Pak that Nelly Korda is the defending champion is postponed due to failure of underwriter failure to pay LPGA. Before this cancellation, What was the strangest reason if any Rex and Lav have heard of a tournament being postponed. If they havent heard of any, what are their thoughts on Se Ri Pak being postponed due to the underwriter failing to pay the LPGA?

[@monk3608]

I would also like a focus on the Friday cut line. It's a spot in the tournament that could hold more viewers that get invested with maybe a rising amateur, new, or aging star straddling the line. I don't want to just read it on a leaderboard after the fact. It's a do or die situation every week that's lost in the media ether.

[@Scott-j9o]

Lowering the number of players does not solve the problem. It simply hides the problem. Have neither of you not played with one slow player in your foursome? Enforce the rules they have on the books. The individualized players need to be penalized STROKES, not fines. The competition for faster players is compromised by the PGA allowing slow players to dictate the pace. Aargh!

[@DaringDan]

Are the Golf Channel execs looking in the mirror at how bad the coverage is on their end from a user/customer standpoint? Cord cutting started happening over 15 years ago and the subscription model from NBC and having to watch 3 different things in haphazard formats is what you all present us. Pace of play is mostly what I care about. Rules need to change for how long players can take per shot. They need to limit how often guys ask for rulings. Use up all your ruling requests? Too bad. Just like coach's challenges in the NFL.

[@chriskelly6559]

When Jim Furyk comes on lining up a putt, I get up for more chips and a beer. By the time I get back to my recliner, Jim is making a final read. TGL is a video/real golf hybrid, no thanx.

[@rnm2357]

I don't care what anyone says, Aim Point slows down the game...particularly Caddies using it.

[@scruffy8861]

The week in and week out fields don't get the big name players to make me want to tune in - that's a bigger problem than slow play.

[@chevy4x466]

I have an idea to make the top level of golf more interesting….. invite LIV golfers for crossover events

[@chriskelly6559]

LIV is still breathing?

[@mitchs1724]

@@chriskelly6559 LIV is doing just fine.. just inked Fox Sports to broadcast rounds.

[@ANTPS32CREWCHIEF]

When I'm relaxing Sun afternoon on the couch I don't need to hear a blimp engine rumbling the pictures off the wall. Get rid of it or find noise-cancelling software!!!!

[@tfbruiser1389]

I hate this content of media dingleberries crying about pace of play for an hour.. don’t watch the media cry about pace of play and spend that 2 hours extra watching golf and there you have your time back..

[@mitchs1724]

Isn’t there rules officials with each group? Why not have them run a shot clock on a stop watch for each group they walk with. Give 3 warnings then start stroking players.

[@Zen_1g]

Carts + rangefinders would fix the pace of play issue easily. I know the carts are a tough thing to approve but id still love to see it.

[@bt2476]

ALSO would VERY much like to see different venues and more challenging setups. The same courses over and over and over again for decades gets a bit monotonous. Especially when the winning scores are 20 under. And for the major championships, even though out of the jurisdiction of the PGA Tour, also it is boring, when the same 6-8 courses are used over and over. And these courses are usually exclusive country clubs that no members of the public will ever play. Talk about that UTTERLY stupid saying "We're growing the game", that is thrown around like some cheap parlor trick, I don't think they know what that actually means. There are many many spectacular golf courses all around the planet!! And I believe that if they truly wanted to grow the game, the organizers wouldn't live in a bubble. There are more courses out there than just St Andrews, Augusta National, and Oakmont. Seek out some different venues around the country and around the globe, and make it happen. If not, I do not see how that isn't a BIG opportunity missed. That's one thing I can say kudos to LIV Golf for, they play around the globe at different courses. Now, the setups in my mind should be quite a bit more difficult for LIV as on the PGA Tour, but just changing the venues would be a good first step. Now I'm all for keeping some of the classic beautiful courses like Pebble Beach, and Harbour Town - but more seaside exotic courses should be explored. They're out there, go find them - enough of this living in a small bubble on the PGA Tour.

[@jamesgerboc]

Its not just pace of play! Look at the number of commercial breaks...no continuity. Look at the LPGA-like lack of player personality...they are all the same. Look at coverage...only the leaders get air time. Its a mess. Getting poor content faster is not the answer. Scotty says he is not an entertsiner. He wants to play golf. People can watch if they want. Well Scotty, how would you like to live out of your car again? Players are good. Golfers who view watch them. Non-golfer need a Tiger, Arnie, Chi Chi, even Bryson or Rickie. Its not THAT Tiger won alot, its HOW Tiger won alot. Drama draws, it creates stories, it matters.

[@J_B72]

Pace of play is the easiest thing to fix. Track each players total time spent on course for each round. Rank them. Top half gets bonus Fed Ex cup points. Bottom half gets Fed Ex cup points deducted. Over the 70 or so rounds a year that the Tour Player plays, it should be pretty indicative (even though sometimes quick players are paired with slow players). You could even do higher alien mathematics to normalize the data.

[@ScaryGoodStories]

A clock on baseball makes sense, but not golf. Tour needs to establish an acceptable average time over the course of a season or quarter and fine players a % of dollars earned during that time since player income isn’t equivalent. If they’re fined two quarters in a row, increase the fine. This way you can change the behavior of our slow playing friends and leave the fast / Avg players alone.

[@Adrian-zw6sc]

Props to Scottie👨‍🍳Chef for still relating to the common man, as he works his own pasta dough.

[@lehonor]

I thought golf was boring till i hit a ball.Is boring to see,but so fun to play.Why?Action takes place on hitting the ball,2 sec.Next you see 3 players walking about 300 yards.😮1.Let them play with buggy.Fast.Then they stood at the ball and calculate.Who wants to see that? 2.Rangefinder.And time.Well,i think it is possible to install a clocksystem vía GPS and play like chess.Watching chesstournament in the early days was exhausting.Today you have worlchampionship 5 min.games.So,IMO: buggy,rangefinder,clocksystem like chess.Is a completely different product to see against play.

[@kevinmcarthur1690]

if you haven't finished your round within 4 hrs you're DQ'd

[@giii7599]

The tour also has to do something about rulings. It should not take 5 to 10 minutes to give a guy a ruling. Also a range finder will do nothing but add something else. They will still use a yardage book.

[@josephboza7448]

It feels like this discussion of pace of play is mainly due to the fact that Dottie Pepper may have been upset with the final group that she had. Harris English had to play 18 holes of boring golf to get his 5th win on the PGA tour. 5 hours and 29 min at Torrey Pines wasnt that bad. Could have been worse. CBS still had 20 min at the end to stall.

[@stevenstewart3171]

90 seconds into the video and they still haven’t talked about the thing that the video supposed to be about… I am moving on

[@clstrat837]

I think the goal should absolutely be making all rounds take 4 1/2hrs. It’s absurd it’s even a question as to whether that’s possible.

[@manx1569]

I agree with shot clock on the green

[@tomk.3428]

Slow play has been around since the 80’s when I began watching. If the PGA wanted to stop it, they have had 45 years to do so and chose not to.

[@kowanmcgarry]

No shot clock on the green. Just a 15 minute clock for the hole, whichever player goes over that time, a stroke is added to their score. If a player finishes every hole in 15 minutes and 1 second, they are 18 over par. They should stop the 15 minute time clock during the players shot with the penalty or hazard, if not those three others in the foursome would have to wait if the time is still counting down and their time is basically wasted by the penalty and hazard player. They would have to stop the clock, no matter what, otherwise, every player would be given an extra stroke and not just that one player who hit a bad shot. I like this idea better than a shot clock on the green. 😊🎉❤

[@clstrat837]

Also caddies should not be allowed to use their bodies (aim point) to aid the player in choosing their line

[@manx1569]

Too many commercial breaks

[@wbwright79]

all this about what (some) fans want; from a fractured dying sport. .0001% troll bots populate 90% of perceived public opinion. you know, prior to covid i golfed and hiked a lot. guess what, suddenly golfing and hiking was almost all you could do outdoors, and i saw 10x as many people doing both nearly. fast forward to today, and everyone has gone back to their sport, bar, or social hobby again and suddenly golf is a fractured sport that has a huge downturn in viewership. did golf expect to corner the market forever?? it's all a bs propaganda story. wait, lets allow random fans to tell us what to do with out 350 year old sport...

[@Oahugolfguy]

Except it is well documented the recreational game is still booming. And this is not about changing the game, it’s about the way the game is covered. Except for shot clocks. That is about getting the players back to playing the game the way it used to be played 309, 20o, even less than 100 years ago. Much much much faster than it is now.

[@chrislewis7]

PGAT once again scrambling to catch up with things LIV are doing.

[@mi2cents405]

Lol....the LIV-bots have arrived, bought with Saudi money, and full of excuses why LIV players (except for Bryson) continue to collapse in the majors. Pathetic!

[@markushayes]

Brooks Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship. Interesting take.

[@mi2cents405]

@markushayes ....followed by 2024 where he didn't finish in the top 25 of any major. That's your rebuttal? Pathetic.

[@markushayes]

@@mi2cents405 Derp

[@adambarnes4191]

​@mi2cents405 dude, give it up about LIV. We get it. You think you're Captain America. Instead, you sound like a crusty old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. It's time to move forward, it's not going anywhere.b

[@markushayes]

@ It actually blows up your original argument. Just take the L and move on.

[@giii7599]

BULLSHIT. Daylight is not the problem. Nor is field size. It's just as slow in limited field events. It's also just as slow in June. What clown show commentator.

[@davidchipman7612]

IMO the PGA is finished it’s only going to get worse there’s to many issues on the table and there mounting the management as well as the players group management needs to go