John Catlin Receives Slow Play Penalty At PGA Championship

John Catlin Receives Slow Play Penalty At PGA Championship

John Catlin Slow Play Penalty
(Image credit: Getty Images)

John Catlin received a one stroke penalty after taking 63 seconds to play his second shot on the 12th hole after being previously warned.

John Catlin Receives Slow Play Penalty At PGA Championship

Catlin, who is making his Major debut this week, had received a warning for slow play on the 16th hole (his seventh) before taking 63 seconds to hit his second shot at the third (his 12th) resulting in a penalty.

The American, who claimed victory at the Austrian Open last month, had been going along nicely at level par when he came to the par-5 16th.

Taking 74 seconds to play his second shot, Catlin would receive a warning from the rules committee.

His second breach would then occur on the par-4 3rd hole, Catlin’s 12th of the day. When the American took just over a minute to hit his second shot. He was hit with a one-shot penalty.

The penalty resulted in a three-over-par 75 for the American, leaving him six shots back of the lead.

The incident is the first slow play penalty handed out at a major since Hideki Matsuyama was docked a stroke at the 2013 Open Championship.

Recently the PGA Tour have started to enforce new slow play rules for 2021.

The Observation List, which relates to PGA Tour’s Pace of Play Policy, outlines that players can’t take longer than an average of 45-seconds per stroke over a ten-tournament rolling period.

Ian Poulter was one of the individuals that exceeded this 45-second limit, with an email stating: “Using individual stroke data from Shotlink, we have identified you as a player with an overall average of 45 seconds or more.

“This places you on the Observation List for this week’s Wells Fargo Championship.

John Catlin Slow Play Penalty

Poulter was placed on the Observation List after being 0.569 seconds over the limit. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

“Your overall per stroke average is 45.569 seconds, up from 44.773 seconds going into the Valspar Championship last week.”

Taking to Instagram, Poulter responded, saying: “I apologise to whomever I am playing with this week. This is the first time ever I have been told I am 0.569 of a second slow. Sounds like some F1 cars. If I play out of turn I am sorry. If I’m ready I’m hitting.”

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Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x