For a very long time, slow play has been a big problem in professional golf. It made rounds take too long. But as the 2026 season started at the Sony Open in Hawaii, golfer Michael Kim shared good news. He said on social media that the pace of play issue is finally getting fixed.
After some big changes in how the PGA Tour is run, the feeling at the Sony Open was different this year. Under new leadership, the focus is now on making the game faster and more enjoyable for fans.
A New Approach Under Brian Rolapp
The change is led by the new PGA Tour CEO, Brian Rolapp. He started the job in 2025. He came from a high-level job at the NFL. Rolapp believes in using data and trying new things. He did not want to keep the old, slow ways of playing.
Rolapp created a new group called the Future Competition Committee. Tiger Woods is the head of this group. Their job was to find new ideas for how professional golf should work. They did not just give warnings. They made real changes. One change is having fewer players in tournaments starting in 2026. At the Sony Open, this meant the course was less crowded. Groups of players could keep moving without long waits.
The Results of the Policy Change at the Sony Open
Michael Kim is very active on social media. He said the new rules are working. The slow play that made rounds feel like a marathon is much better now. Some changes are technical, like a new video center for reviews. But you can see the results on the course.
“The Tour has finally addressed a major flaw in our game,” Kim said. The rounds are now much faster.
Here are The main adjustments:
- Stricter Enforcement: Officials are watching more closely. If a player takes more than 45 seconds for a shot, they are put on a watch list.
- Using Technology: New technology lets officials track the speed of play in real time, very accurately.
- Public Accountability: Data about how fast or slow players are is now shared publicly. This puts pressure on the slow players to speed up.
A Better Experience for Players and Fans
The success at the Sony Open shows these rules work in real life. For fans watching on TV from places like New York or Toronto, faster play is more exciting and fits better into TV schedules. For the players, it means they can stay focused without getting tired from waiting.
As the season continues to big tournaments, these new pace-of-play rules are expected to be the new normal. Michael Kim’s positive words are a sign: the time of rounds taking five and a half hours is ending.
Looking Forward: The Future of Professional Golf
With Brian Rolapp leading and players like Michael Kim giving support, the PGA Tour is solving problems. By making the game more enjoyable and simpler, the Tour is making sure golf stays popular. If the Sony Open is a sign, the ghost of slow play that bothered the sport for years may finally be gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new CEO of the PGA Tour?
Brian Rolapp became the CEO of the PGA Tour in 2025. He worked as an executive for the NFL before and likes to innovate.
What are the key changes to the 2026 pace of play policy?
The key changes are: smaller tournament fields to reduce crowding, a Video Review Center for faster decisions, and sharing data on how long players take for each shot.
Did Michael Kim play in the 2026 Sony Open?
Yes, Michael Kim played in the 2026 Sony Open. He was one of the first players to talk about how much better the pace of play was.
How does the “Observation List” work?
Players who often take more than 45 seconds per shot go on an observation list. If they then take more than 60 seconds during a round, they can get stroke penalties and fines.
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources regarding the 2026 PGA Tour season. Readers should cross-check updates from official PGA Tour news outlets for the latest policy changes.