Sam Torrance: JB Holmes’s Genesis Open win highlighted the need for slow play rules to be enforced
American JB Holmes overcame difficult conditions in California to beat Justin Thomas by one shot and win the Genesis Open on Sunday.
Many players struggled with wind gusting up to 30mph, but Holmes drives the ball low with a strong grip and club face position, meaning he’s less effected by the breeze than most.
He handled the weather very well to claim his first win on the PGA Tour since 2015, but his victory was notable for other reasons.
Holmes’s style is very slow and deliberate and with the final pairing playing 33 holes on the last day it was really noticeable.
The American spends a long time deliberating shots and at one stage took over a minute to hit a putt. The PGA Tour rules say you should take no longer than 45 seconds to hit a shot, so why is it not implemented more often?
Some of the other new rules are enforced. Haotong Li was penalised for his caddie allegedly helping him line up a shot in Dubai last month – and yet the most obvious Achilles Heel in the sport is slow play.
It’s not what you want to see. It’s frustrating for the viewers, but more so those playing with him.
Any golfer will know: there’s nothing worse than playing with a slower opponent, especially on the tee. You really have to use a lot of concentration to negate the annoyance.
Golf is a more laborious, relaxed sport than many others but it still needs to keep moving to attract viewers.
The only way to make sure the rules are followed is to penalise shots, because a fine won’t make much difference. A two-shot penalty would speed up play because it could put a player out of contention of winning an event.
I was on tour for 45 years and it’s always been a bone of contention. Until the tours start clamping down it will continue to be a source of frustration.
Poor finish for McIlroy
Rory McIlroy made it three successive top-five finishes on the PGA Tour with a fourth-place in California, but will still have been disappointed with how his last round played out.
McIlroy put himself out of position on the 16th but holed a bunker shot to get within two shots of the lead.
Birdie then par on the last two holes could have set a target which would have been tough to beat but a huge drive at the 17th and a poor second shot meant he faded.
The fact he got himself into contention before making two mistakes on the last two holes will have annoyed him.
However, it’s early in the year and he’s preparing himself for the upcoming majors, so it’s good that he’s getting there. The signs are there for him if he can improve his course management.
McIlroy won his four majors a long time ago, so it’s time for him to develop into the prolific player he should be. I love his game but at the moment he’s missing something to finish it off.
Fox off the mark
Elsewhere, Ryan Fox won the World Super 6 Perth to claim his first European Tour victory on his 79th start.
It was a big win for the huge-hitting New Zealander, who is the son of former All Blacks fly half Grant Fox.
Now he’s broken the ice and moved up 19 places to 66th in the world rankings there should be many more to come for the 32-year-old.