Scottie Scheffler Comes Under Fire For Taking Five Minutes To Play Shot
A video went viral of the World No.2 appearing to take five minutes over a wedge shot
Scottie Scheffler came under fire on social media after a clip of him appearing to take five minutes to play a wedge shot at the PGA Championship received hundreds of thousands of views.
The World No.2 had a tricky pitch shot from the deep Oak Hill rough on the 14th hole, his fifth, which he certainly looked to take his time over. Scheffler was seen walking up to the green and back down towards his ball, while he was also deliberating with playing partner Brooks Koepka over which of the two was to play next.
Later in the clip, Scheffler held his hands up, seemingly unaware it was his turn to play.
It appeared that the Texan was first waiting on the group ahead, who were on the putting green at the time, although social media wasn't giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Bad. https://t.co/1GMy9JTtyCMay 18, 2023
5 minutes to hit a pitch shot, what are we doing.Golf needs a shot clock. https://t.co/gsGdJd5zzoMay 18, 2023
"I realize the 40 second rule almost never applies or is enforced. But this is 7.5X the allotted time to hit your shot. Totally egregious," one user wrote, while others said he should be penalized strokes.
This should be a 10 shot penalty. Maybe more. https://t.co/fuaqAGHzFCMay 18, 2023
His companion Brooks Koepka suggested just that earlier in the week for slow place offenders.
Koepka has been very vocal about slow play in recent years, again speaking out on pace of play at The Masters where he described the group ahead on the final day as "brutally slow".
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Ahead of the PGA Championship, the four-time Major champion said: "There's a lot of guys out here that take their time. I think it is a problem. Technically in the rule book it says you have 40 seconds to hit your shot. I think that's what it is. If you are taking over, technically you're breaking the rules, right?
"Honestly, I would start stroking guys. If you are going to take that long, you have to get stroked. There are certain circumstances where the wind switches, something like that, it's understandable, but taking a while is I just think unnecessary."
Due to the viral nature of the clip, it's likely Scheffler will be asked about what happened after his round where he may give a valid explanation as to what went on.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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