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Guan revisited: Hideki Matsuyama hit with slow play penalty

Published

12 years ago

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For the second time at the the majors in 2013, a player was assessed a penalty for slow play. The offending party: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who, after multiple warnings, was penalized on the 17th hole of his third round at The Open Championship.

Matsuyama and playing partner Johnson Wagner first faced the timekeeper’s disapproving glare on the 15th hole. At that point, the players were 15 minutes behind. The group ahead of them (the not exactly young and sprite) Tom Lehman and Mark O’Meara, were significantly outpacing the two at the time, according to the R&A.

After being notified that they were on the clock on the 15th green, Matsuyama had another “bad time” (2 minutes, 12 seconds behind, reportedly) while playing his approach to the 17th hole and was assessed a one-stroke penalty.

The penalty gave the young native of Japan a bogey 6 on the 17th hole, and he eventually finished the day six shots behind leader Lee Westwood.

Of course, there have been suggestions that Matsuyama, a native of Japan, didn’t understand the situation. However, David Rickman, the R&A’s rules official, didn’t give much credence to such sentiments.

“I can confirm that the player was fully aware of the circumstances that he was in,” Rickman said.

One player who did understand the situation and didn’t agree with the penalty was playing partner Johnson Wagner, who took particular issue with the fact that Matsuyama was assessed the penalty on a hole (the 17th) where his drive had struck a spectator, which slowed the group’s progress.

“I don’t like slow play either but given his position in the tournament, and given the shot he faced on 17, I don’t think he took too long,” Wagner said. “I think it’s tragic and I think the R&A should use better judgment in the penalising of it.”

Tragic or not, the R&A in general, and David Rickman in particular, have spoken, and a second player has been docked a stroke at one of golf’s most significant tournaments this year.

Will slow play play a role in the final Round of The Open Championship? Surely, times will tell.

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Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Augustine

    Jul 25, 2013 at 9:27 am

    I think the PGA tour should have “timeboards” at every tee just to show whether a group is behind… that would be a fair way to time everyone, not just those “judged” to be slow then placed on the clock…

    But, this makes too much sense, so the R&A will not do it…

    Reply Report comment

  2. yo!

    Jul 23, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    At the professional level, either put everyone on the clock and enforce it equally rather than haphazardly. Or give the players the option of calling the clock on another player. I’ve been to a couple of tournaments and have timed how long the pros take to make a shot. It is slow … but at least no one gets called for it so no one complains that it is unfair.

    Reply Report comment

  3. Norm

    Jul 22, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    That one shot may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, but the fact is that it was an entire round that was slow. How do you possibly fall 15 minutes behind the group in front of you? That’s abysmal. A twosome of professional golfers shooting around par for 18 holes should play in under 4 hours. 15 minutes is a significant amount of time when put in context. Also, the articale does not mention that there was a Japanese speaking rules official with the group, so “he didn’t understand” was not the case.

    Reply Report comment

  4. Chris

    Jul 22, 2013 at 1:14 am

    correction Johnson not Jonathan (can’t even blame my spell check!).

    Reply Report comment

  5. Chris

    Jul 22, 2013 at 1:13 am

    This penalty was a mistake. Jonathan got it right, the R&A should known better. But of course if you look at their handling of the rule book over the years you can tell they are out of touch.

    Reply Report comment

  6. tonyk

    Jul 22, 2013 at 12:57 am

    Maybe it’s just a coincidence that only young Asian players actually got penalties by slow play.

    Reply Report comment

    • purkjason

      Jul 24, 2013 at 10:40 am

      I was thinking the exact same thing tonyk. I think Ben Crane should get a penalty stroke for almost every hole he has ever played on tour and the pre shot routine of Keegan Bradley takes 2 mins. in itself, not to mention it’s annoying with all the club spinning. I think the R&A are penalizing the Asian Players due to them improving at a rapid pace. Just look at the LPGA and it’s dominated by the Asian Women and with the help of Greg Norman the young Asian Players will only become better quickly. And the Asians have more pride and dedication than the Americans so they deserve all that comes from hard work. And yes, I’m an American making these comments.

      Reply Report comment

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