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Koepka slams DeChambeau’s slow play; DeChambeau defends his lengthy pre-shot routine

Published

7 years ago

Jan 30, 2019

The slow play issue in golf is reaching an inevitable crescendo, and this week Brooks Koepka aired how he feels about players who possess lengthy pre-shot routines, calling their actions “embarrassing.”

The three-time major champ was speaking to Michael Weston on Golf Monthly’s podcast, and when the subject of Bryson DeChambeau’s pre-shot process came about, Koepka didn’t hold back.

“I just don’t understand how it takes a minute and 20 seconds, a minute and 15 to hit a golf ball; it’s not that hard. It’s always between two clubs; there’s a miss short, there’s a miss long. It really drives me nuts especially when it’s a long hitter because you know you’ve got two other guys or at least one guy that’s hitting before you so you can do all your calculations; you should have your numbers.

“Obviously if you’re the first guy you might take ten extra seconds, but it doesn’t take that long to hit the ball, especially if it’s not blowing 30. If it’s blowing 30 I understand taking a minute and taking some extra time with some gusts, you know changing just slightly, I get that but if it’s a calm day there’s no excuse. Guys are already so slow it’s kind of embarrassing. I just don’t get why you enforce some things and don’t enforce others.”

DeChambeau, who romped home at last week’s Dubai Desert Classic for his fifth win worldwide in the space of eight months, responded separately after the event, giving his perspective on his suggested slow play to the media. For DeChambeau, the ends justify the means, as, after all, golf is his livelihood.

“It’s actually quite impressive that we’re able to get all that stuff done in 45 seconds. People don’t realise that it’s very difficult to do everything we do in 45 seconds. I think that anybody that has an issue with it, I understand, but we’re playing for our livelihoods out here, and this is what we want to do. If we want to provide the best entertainment for you, it’s part of our process. It’s part of my process, at least.”

The Californian’s view that people should be impressed by the length of his pre-shot routine is sure to raise some eyebrows. This video posted on Twitter by the European Tour, showcased DeChambeau’s 75-second pre-shot process at last week’s Dubai Desert Classic, and it’s fair to say, golf fans were not impressed.

An insight into @B_DeChambeau’s process ???? pic.twitter.com/WfTyzstkDu

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 27, 2019

Undoubtedly authorities need to be more transparent on their stance concerning slow-play in the game. It’s an issue which frustrates the majority of golf fans, but despite the countless examples of slow play in the professional game, there has only been a handful of penalties handed out for the transgression throughout history.

The European Tour has introduced The Shot Clock Masters, which debuted in 2018 and proved to be very popular amongst both players and fans. The experimental event could prove to be the catalyst in combatting slow play in the sport which as of now is one of the few remaining which doesn’t possess a shot clock week in and week out.

As for DeChambeau, according to the man himself, any issues over the length of time it takes him to prepare before a shot will vanish with more course experience, while the five-time winner on the PGA Tour also confirmed that the looseness of the slow play rule, for better or worse, allows players to take advantage.

“Some people don’t do what we do and they are successful. But they have got loads of experience that I haven’t really necessarily had, so I have to find another way to be just as consistent as them without the experience. So I have to kind of do that stuff initially, and down the road, it will keep getting quicker and quicker and quicker, because I’m certainly not a slow walker, I know that.”

“It’s just a part of the process and unfortunately the Rules of Golf allow for a certain amount of time, and we’re using it to our fullest potential.”

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30 Comments

Steve

Jan 31, 2019 at 4:38 pm

The way I see it, is to add a second caddie so they have another person to give his opinion. Three heads are better than two and move things along alot quicker. Maybe. Also, the other caddie could rake the sand, fix the divot in the fairway, and crowd control. Many other things.

Reply Report comment
Michael Kutilek

Jan 31, 2019 at 2:33 pm

The late great Julius Boros once said that if you didn’t know what you were going to do by the time you got to your ball you needed to find another line of work. Amen.

Reply Report comment
Dan

Jan 31, 2019 at 8:23 am

I thought BD had a great answer. People want to see the best players play their best and that what he needs to do that.

Until the tour, college, junior events adress slow play it will only get worse.

Reply Report comment
Travis

Jan 31, 2019 at 6:39 am

Have them play ready golf … playing out of turn is not a penalty
Why should slow play be an advantage for the slow player so hit when ready then go get a beer or a hot dog
I agree it shouldnt take that long to play but theyre playing professionally & not for my $5/5/5/5 bet
The problem (as always) is how it trickles down to bother us during our games

Reply Report comment
Andrew Olson

Jan 30, 2019 at 11:33 pm

He’s looking at air density from the US.

It’s actually very smart to calculate.

For example if the typical United States golfer plays in Colorado, they would take air density into account.

When you are playing all across the globe, it’s smart to normalize data.

Reply Report comment
- Wes B
  
  Jan 31, 2019 at 1:24 am
  
  True BUT air density isn’t changing from shot to shot. He should have all that figured out in his warm up and practice rounds. Every pro in the games yardage change week to week and they adjust accordingly.
  
  Reply Report comment
KoepkasIQ

Jan 30, 2019 at 7:24 pm

Clearly Bryson doesn’t use enough supplements for Brooksies liking.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Jan 30, 2019 at 5:01 pm

New Rules do NOTHING to address slow play….existing rules are selectively enforced at best Also, the new rules should have addressed how when your ball comes to rest in someone else’s unreplaced or unfilled divot you should be allowed to drop. Unreplaced or unfilled divots are a result of another player/caddie’s negligence and should not cause you to suffer.

Reply Report comment
Thomas Noel

Jan 30, 2019 at 2:34 pm

And I thought watching golf on TV was all about me! Of course on TV they can edit the time frame, so slow play doesn’t effect me. It must really suck to have to wait to hit your ball while playing on exclusive courses that I will never see. Poor, poor babies! Never mind making millions. If you really want to speed play, fire all the caddies and give the Pros’ electric golf carts so they can race to the ball, then they can take as much time over the shot as the want. Or maybe polo golf! I want to see the best shot possible. Stop whining about slow play!

Reply Report comment
BTO

Jan 30, 2019 at 1:31 pm

Easy fix for all the nonsense as mentioned already. The ruling authority needs to step up to the plate. By why stop at Bryson! IMO the world’s #1 drives me nuts, especially on the putting green. With my own patience issues I’d be a basket case playing with ANY of these guys to tell the truth.

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joro

Jan 30, 2019 at 1:30 pm

Although DeDhampeau is a really good guy, a real gentleman in fact, he is oblivious to what his slow pace does in the long run. He is painfully slow at times thumbing his nose at the rules which are mostly overlooked by the Officials on scene. His slow play affects slow play on all fronts causing a lot of people to quit the game not having the time to stand around waiting for the players in front doing their act because they see the Tour do it and think they should also. And of course the announcers do not help when they say you can’t rush a shot.

The fact is it is a plague affecting the game. We had a High School Championship at our course 3 yrs ago which took the first group over 6 hrs to shoot in the 90s. That meant that many people with tee times after the Tournament did not get to play because the Matches went on too late. I know some rules are stupid but slow play is not stupid, it is ridiculous. Bottom line is how would you like to play behind a slow player.

I timed Bryson on one 8 ft. Putt that took 2 min. and 10 sec. to hit,,,,,,, and he missed it, ridiculous, and no penalty for slow play ever to top player who have no consideration for those in back of them. And the Ladies are no better, it is a plague.

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Todd Dugan

Jan 30, 2019 at 1:05 pm

You can take as long as you want UNLESS your group is put on the clock for being out of position. Having said that, I’d say that the PGA Tour’s Pace of Play policy is a joke.

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BD

Jan 30, 2019 at 12:55 pm

PGA Tour, in contrast to other tours, lack the guts to take action on slow play and so slow players, naturally, take advantage.
Unless the Tour develops some intestinal fortitude the problem will continue to worsen and fans, such as I, will continue to watch less golf.

Reply Report comment
Tom54

Jan 30, 2019 at 12:35 pm

Still don’t understand why range finders are not allowed. Would that not speed up play at least a fraction? While players that are away are hitting their shots,remaining players will at least have the exact yardage done before their time to hit. When it’s their turn all they should have to wonder about is the wind at that time. Caddy and player should already have most of the information done before its time to hit. Should not be staring at books and stuff when the camera goes to them. Doesn’t sound that complicated to me, does it?

Reply Report comment
- joro
  
  Jan 30, 2019 at 1:32 pm
  
  That is why the rules are a joke, a bad joke. Ah the hypocrisy of it all. Why let them do something that is better and faster.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Christopher
  
  Jan 30, 2019 at 11:22 pm
  
  Range finders are useful for targeting pins, but good players need more numbers, they want distance to the front and back of the green (as well as tiers) and carry distances over hazards (which could be included with GPS), but guys and girls trust their yardage books.
  
  I doubt when you factor everything thing in, that range finders are that much faster or much more accurate.
  
  Reply Report comment
Bob

Jan 30, 2019 at 12:20 pm

“It’s hilarious to watch him roll up all the variables such as air density and other BS. And get it totally wrong”

I’d love to know what your definition of “right” is…what’s your average leave from the rough @ 138yds? How is winning a tournament totally wrong? Does “totally wrong” get you an NCAA individual, a US Am, and seven pro wins at age 25? How’s that stack up to your resume?

“I don’t enjoy watching nerds calculate air density and whatever else they think is necessary”

Nor do you have to. But be prepared to spend a looooong time losing to the nerds who do

In my view, the bottom line here is that Bryson’s going to do his thing. Go ahead and enforce a 30s, 45s, 1min shot window (take your pick), he’ll figure out a way to condense the information. His way works for him and he has 15-20 more years of prime golf to further improve. If you don’t like it, prepare to spend the next two decades angry at a great golfer who might bother with your opinion once he’s done polishing the trophy collection.

Reply Report comment
- DB
  
  Jan 30, 2019 at 2:48 pm
  
  “I don’t enjoy watching nerds calculate air density and whatever else they think is necessary”
  
  “Nor do you have to. But be prepared to spend a looooong time losing to the nerds who do”
  
  That’s nice that you believe in SCIENCE! and think the future of golf is nerds beating everyone else. You must have missed the part of my post where I made it clear that BC would be playing exactly the same if he didn’t have all these neurotic behaviors in his pre-shot routine. It’s all in his head to make him feel comfortable.
  
  You’re right I don’t have to watch the TV, but you know what I do have to watch? All the amateurs on my home course who take their cue from professional golf and have 90-second pre-shot routines to hit each and every shot – and they still shoot 120.
  
  Reply Report comment
snapjack

Jan 30, 2019 at 12:11 pm

There is no justifying slow play, time to bring in a shot clock. Put it on the players bags so everyone can see. Give them distance penalties instead of stroke. 10 yards straight back no matter where you are. I hate slow players obviously.

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Dave r

Jan 30, 2019 at 12:02 pm

I enjoyed watching golf but when it got to be 4 hours for the last 11 holes you lost me. They now have play thru the adds on tv but the 2 minute add is up and the dude still hasn’t hit his shot. I don’t blame the scientist for taking as long as he does ,blame the tour they are letting it happen. Man up get some balls and ding these guys where it hurts in the bank book. We have them where I play we nick name them CALANDER your here to watch me play and don’t you dare move or the scientist in me will start all over again and we are only playing for $2.00 ,$2.00 ,$2.00 needless to say they no longer play in our group ,they are now holding up the coarse behind us.

Reply Report comment
~j~

Jan 30, 2019 at 11:45 am

I find it amusing how BC’s ‘slow play’ is so hard to watch, despite 99.9% of viewers watching it from their TV’s.

Brooks is a dainty one anyways. 9/10 times he’s complaining about something. I hope his next playing partners slow roll him all day for it. One less person to worry about on Sunday.

Reply Report comment
KS

Jan 30, 2019 at 11:30 am

I kind of object to your use of the verb “slam” in the headline of this article. I heard the entire Koepka question and response and I would never characterize it as a “slam” or “slamming” DeChambeau. Koepka was asked a simple question about slow play in general and DeChambeau’s time on a certain couple of shots. He answered the question clearly and and without any overall character shot. I think he actually went ou of his way to avoid attacking or “slamming” anyone individually, despite the question being prompted by DeChambeau’s “process.”

Reply Report comment
- Gianni se p*es Magliocco
  
  Jan 31, 2019 at 4:59 am
  
  Exactly, bout time we slam Gianni Magliocco for click bait headlines, and absolutely pathetic gossip articles.
  
  WHO THE F*CK CARES!!!!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
joe

Jan 30, 2019 at 10:01 am

It’s hilarious to watch him roll up all the variables such as air density and other BS. And get it totally wrong. One of the most annoying players on tour. I don’t care if he won by 20 strokes, he is painful to watch. And the “physics nerd nerd” schtick isn’t cute anymore.

Reply Report comment
- Benny
  
  Jan 30, 2019 at 5:00 pm
  
  Joe is spot on. Bryson could have done all of that math well before it was his time to hit. Instead he waited to go through all that jargon once the TV was on him to justify the “scientist” name.
  I think the kid has some skills and love the fact he is doing something different but man he makes it hard to root for him.
  
  Reply Report comment
JP

Jan 30, 2019 at 9:32 am

Either make EVERYONE follow the time rules, or NEVER enforce it again. Let Phil show you how much it sucks when he takes 10 minutes for each shot just to show the importance of enforcing the time rule. He’ll have a 12 hour round spread out over two days. Haha

Reply Report comment
dat

Jan 30, 2019 at 9:15 am

If he was a “normal” player and hit the shots he did, won the way he did, I’d be on board. It’s the total lack of reliability that alienates fans. DeChambeau should see a shrink.

Reply Report comment
- Greg V
  
  Jan 30, 2019 at 10:07 am
  
  I agree with you wholeheartedly. For as smart as DeChampeau is supposed to be, he’s fragile psychically.
  
  Besides, it’s not fair to the rest of the field. Shot Clock Masters is the best idea in a long time. Put them all on the clock, every shot, with penalty shots involved.
  
  Reply Report comment
Bert Gwaltney

Jan 30, 2019 at 9:11 am

The statement used in the article is “provide entertainment”, so that’s what it is, it makes slow play OK since your’re being entertained, what a joke. I assume the European Tour didn’t use the Shot Clock Master during this entertaining event. Penalties for slow play need to be enacted and enforced, and don’t start with the little guy as an example. Start at the top, right here. I tried to take one-minute to play a shot, it’s difficult.

Reply Report comment
DB

Jan 30, 2019 at 9:05 am

I don’t enjoy watching nerds calculate air density and whatever else they think is necessary. This is not sport. What’s more – I don’t think any of that is even helping, it’s just something he feels is necessary before he’s comfortable hitting the shot.

It’s effectively no different than Kevin Na’s pseudo-swings from a few years ago, this just has the veneer of “science” on it.

Reply Report comment

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