Just over a year ago, in March of 2025, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced that the PGA Tour would begin publishing speed-of-play statistics. The decision came after receiving feedback gathered through the Tour’s Fan Forward initiative.
The move reflects the PGA Tour’s growing awareness that pace of play is a frequently discussed aspect of professional golf, one that is often criticized. By making this data more transparent, the Tour hopes to offer an accurate picture of the matter, one that may reshape how both fans and players understand the issue.
PGA Tour Makes Speed-of-Play Data Public
While the policy is intended for the PGA Tour, its initial rollout will take place on the Korn Ferry Tour. Beginning May 14 at the Colonial Life Classic, players’ speed-of-play statistics will be made public for the first time.
Previously, this information was accessible only to players themselves for private review. Now, fans, media, and competitors will be able to see how individuals stack up against one another in terms of pace.
According to Golf Magazine, a memo outlining how the data will be presented was distributed to players. Tournament-specific timings, as well as season-long averages, will be published for each player. In addition, an overall Speed-of-Play ranking will be introduced. This system will place faster players at the top depending on the Tour’s average. The data will also be broken down by shot type. This move offers more details about how long players take in specific situations. For example, average stroke times for tee shots will be tracked separately from approach shots, giving a more accurate picture of where delays may occur, and why.
A notable feature of this initiative is the level of detail that will be available in real time. Individual averages may be updated and shared during tournaments. This would provide a level of transparency that has yet to be seen in professional golf. This type of reporting is made possible largely through the PGA Tour’s ShotLink system. The same technology that is responsible for capturing highly precise data used throughout the golf season.
Objectives
The introduction of public pace-of-play data is guided by four primary objectives, as outlined in the memo to players.
First, the PGA Tour aims to provide fans with additional competitive context, improving understanding of the game beyond traditional scoring statistics. Second, it looks to create more positivity around pace of play, shifting the conversation away from its typically negative tone. Third, the initiative is intended to correct misinformation and defend players who may be unfairly labeled as slow. Finally, the data will serve as a tool for identifying and monitoring slower players, encouraging improvement through increased accountability.
Overall, this initiative represents a step toward greater transparency in professional golf. By bringing speed-of-play statistics into the public eye, the PGA Tour aims to address fan concerns. The Tour looks to start more informed and balanced conversations around one of the sport’s most persistent challenges.
While this change is scheduled to begin on the feeder circuit, it is not yet clear when the same changes will take place at PGA Tour events, or what it means for future events.
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