Social Media Blasts 'Disgraceful' And 'Absolutely Brutal' Open Pace Of Play

Golfers pictured with tweets added on top

(Image credit: Future)

published 14 July 2022

Golf fans were disappointed with the pace of play on day one at The Open, with rounds taking six hours over the Old Course at St Andrews.

Drivable par-4s, double greens and a steady wind may have contributed, but players and fans were unimpressed with how long the rounds were taking. Tiger Woods' group went out at 2.59pm local time and were approaching the final green six hours later, by which point the grandstands featured plenty of empty seats.

Collin Morikawa played with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele on day one and said he didn't know that the pace of play would be this slow.

"I figured it would be slow, but I didn't know it would be this slow," the defending champion said after his opening 72. "We were waiting on groups at tees, waiting on fairways. Xander and I talked about it, we're watching more golf than we ever have.

"You stay in the fairway, and you're watching two other groups play golf. That's part of it this week of just staying patient and make sure you're not rushing your shots."

Richard Bland sits on a golf bag — Richard Bland looking unimpressed with the pace of play

Tiger etc heading for six hour rounds. Unacceptable. Including for so many of the paying punters who have long since departed.July 14, 2022

Matt Fitzpatrick on the 6:09 round: “It’s sad, really. Should never happen in golf.”July 14, 2022

6+ hour pace of play here?That’s slower than a charity scramble where 80% of the golfers play once a year. This is silly. DQ the entire field. 😁July 14, 2022

⏰ 💤 🥱 6 HOUR ROUNDS — Pace of play during round 1 has been incredibly frustrating at St Andrews. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/oeIrXDaIdhJuly 14, 2022

Going to be over 6 hours for a three ball, music to Greg Norman’s ears. What happened to penalising slow play?July 14, 2022

The group to just finish took 6 hours and 5 minutes to complete 18 holes at #TheOpen. And it’s not slow play. It’s not the players’ fault. Figure it out, R&A. Ridiculous.July 14, 2022

6 hours to get around is nothing short of disgraceful.#TheOpen #SecretTourProJuly 14, 2022

This is absolutely brutal pace of play.July 14, 2022

Who on planet earth is allowing a 3 ball to take 6 hours @TheOpen Get a grip!! #TheOpenJuly 14, 2022

It's been 4 hours and 20 minutes and Tiger's group is on the 13th fairway. Just *painfully* slow out there.July 14, 2022

VIDEO: Perks of winning The Open

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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

How social media viewed the slow play:

VIDEO: Perks of winning The Open

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