Golf slow play debate heats up as Jon Rahm proposes bold rule change — could majors finally speed up?

Rahm wants stricter pace-of-play rules across every major championship

Jon Rahm has reignited the debate over slow play by calling for a significant change to the rules used at golf’s major championships. The former world No. 1 believes pace-of-play warnings should remain attached to players for the entire tournament instead of resetting after each round, arguing that the current system lacks consistency.

The discussion gained momentum after The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where rounds on Thursday and Friday stretched close to six hours. While many fans criticized the lengthy pace, Rahm explained that major championships naturally take longer because of their larger fields and the demanding course setups that test every aspect of a player’s game.

Rahm pointed out that events featuring 156 competitors inevitably create delays, especially on difficult holes where recovery shots become more challenging. He noted that weekend rounds are typically much faster because the field is reduced, while smaller tournaments such as LIV Golf events rarely experience the same issues due to limited player numbers.

Despite defending some of the unavoidable delays, Rahm believes the rules surrounding slow play need to become much tougher. He argued that players currently receive too many opportunities before being penalized, allowing pace-of-play problems to continue affecting the rest of the field without meaningful consequences.

The Spaniard made his comments shortly after receiving a code of conduct warning during The Open for throwing his club in frustration. Comparing that situation with pace-of-play enforcement, Rahm questioned why conduct violations can carry lasting consequences while repeated slow play warnings effectively reset after every round.

Rahm suggested that once a player receives a pace-of-play warning on Thursday, it should remain active throughout the championship instead of starting over the next day. In his view, maintaining accountability across all four rounds would create greater fairness, encourage faster play, and reduce unnecessary delays during golf’s biggest tournaments.

As governing bodies continue searching for solutions to one of golf’s most debated issues, Rahm’s proposal is likely to attract widespread attention from players and fans alike. With slow play remaining a recurring complaint, stricter and more consistent enforcement could become one of the sport’s biggest rule changes in the years ahead.