‘It’s a Disgrace’: Days After Winning $3.6 Million, Matt Fitzpatrick’s Harsh Sentiments Unanimously Garners the Support of the Golf Community

Slow play has become a real issue in golf. Over the years, the increasing popularity of the sport has been threatened by the sluggish pace of the game. While some golfers have gone about doing their business swiftly, others still lag behind, which consumes more time than necessary, enough to put off young audiences. While no real step has been taken to tackle the concern, English golfer, Matt Fitzpatrick has made his opinions clear with a hard-hitting interview, where he condemned those who played it slow.

The 28-year-old golfer was in a celebratory mood after clinching the RBC Heritage last week, which secured him a pay cheque worth $3.6 million. Yet, he condemned the slow play on Sunday, where he was paired with World No.4 Patrick Cantlay, considered one of the slowest golfers on tour.

In his opinion, Fitzpatrick claimed that a time restriction should be forced upon golfers to maintain a steady rate. “If you’re in a three-ball, in my opinion, you should be round in four hours, four and a half absolute maximum – it’s a disgrace to get anywhere near that,” he said. “You’re talking five hours and 15, five and a half hours at some venues and it’s truly appalling.”