"Chamblee slow to accept pace-of-play policy"
from February 2 issue of Golfweek:
Brandel Chamblee is one player who disapproves of the PGA
Tour's stricter pace-of-play policy. He maintains players need
more than 45 seconds on some difficult shots, that Tour
players aren't slow, that fast players also cause problems,
that Tour officials say rounds take about as long as they
did 30 years ago, and that hitting when not ready is
unprofessional.
He takes exception to the new rule under which a player will
be fined $5,000 on a second bad time. Previously, there was
no fine in that situation. Moreover, fines (but not penalty
strokes) are cumulative during the year.
"It's too strict, too severe," said Chamblee, fined $1,000 for
taking two seconds too long to hit a difficult shot from trouble
on the 16th hole of the 2001 Players Championship. "No
official wants to do it. If Tiger (Woods) gets two bad times
and comes to Amen Corner in the final round (of the Masters),
the focus will not be on whether he hits a good shot but on
how fast he plays. Maybe they should put a shot clock up."
HE also took exception to the new rule under which a player
would be disqualified after his fourth bad time in the same round.
"If Tiger is contending at Augusta and his next slow time is a
DQ, that's too much going on," Chamblee said. "DQ? Out of
the game? Come on."