Am watching the Shot Clock Masters this morning and finding it rather interesting. Something that definitedly speeds up the game of golf at the professional level. What's your take on their desire to speed up play at this level?
The first player in every group will have 50 seconds to play any given shot, from there each subsequent player will have 40 seconds to play. Players will be hit with a one-shot penalty each time they take longer than their allotted time for the shot, and those penalties will be indicated by a red card against their name on the leaderboard. Each player will also be allowed two 'time-outs' per round, which will give them twice the time to play their shot.
It is hoped that the new format will cut round times by approximately 45 minutes.
Innovation
Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: "The 2018 Shot Clock Masters will be a fascinating addition to our schedule. Not only will it help us combat slow play and reduce round times, it is also further evidence of our desire to embrace innovation."
While Austrian player Bernd Wiesberger said: "With this change, there will be much more attention from the international sports media during the tournament.
"The new Shot Clock format is an ideal way to focus on the issue of pace of play. The game of golf should definitely be faster and therefore this is a step in the right direction."