Earlier than golf followers universally hailed Tommy Fleetwood’s PGA Tour breakthrough win on the Tour Championship, they needed to endure the sluggish play of Patrick Cantlay.
The American, who has been a serial offender in the case of crimes in opposition to tempo of play, was paired with Fleetwood for the ultimate spherical as they started the final day in a share of the lead.
Cantlay shot a one-over par closing spherical to fall to a share of second, three pictures again from Fleetwood, but it surely not his wayward stroke play that was irritating followers.
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Somewhat it was the prolonged time Cantlay was taking up the tee earlier than enjoying a shot, and the greens earlier than placing a putt that had spectators and viewers alike agitated.
With the strain constructing all through the again 9, the 33-year-old American acquired slower and slower.
Match officers finally had no alternative however the put Cantlay and Fleetwood on the clock as they fell virtually two holes behind Russell Henley and Keegan Bradley within the group in entrance.
“It’s definitely not Tommy that’s the sluggish one,” former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley stated on Sky Sports activities’ protection.
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The commentators common famous that Cantlay was “taking his time once more”, when he would tackle the ball.
Cantlay’s sluggish place was derided on social media with followers tearing their hair out watching the eight-time PGA Tour winner waggling his membership for greater than 30 seconds at instances earlier than enjoying his shot.
It has been an issue for a number of years, however appears to succeed in boiling level when the stakes are highest.
Cantlay’s tempo was a giant speaking level from final week’s BMW Championship, the place a shot clock was put subsequent to him on the printed.
The PGA Tour introduced in March that later this yr they’d start to launch speed-of-play information, and as soon as the numbers are printed from the Tour Championship it is going to be clear how slowly precisely Cantlay was.
However he feels he’s usually unfairly singled out.
Cantlay didn’t tackle is tempo of play after the ultimate spherical on Monday morning AEST, however did discuss it final week.
When he was requested if he felt like the printed highlight could have one been shone on him, Cantlay insisted that he was not alone in being sluggish.
“I do know, I talked to lots of guys final week. The course was enjoying actually robust, so virtually each group was behind time par,” Cantlay stated.
One reporter then stated: “They selected you.”
Cantlay replied: “Yeah, clearly I’m not in command of the printed or what sort of stuff they placed on there. However I’m probably not fearful about it. I’m attempting to make the bottom rating on the market.”
No matter Cantlay’s previous feedback, his tempo of play is an issue, and can proceed to bother golf followers if he isn’t held accountable.