Former major champ explains how big issue on PGA Tour has 'only got worse'

Former long-time CBS Sports analyst Ian Baker-Finch has revealed what he believes is the biggest issue regarding pace of play on the PGA Tour. 

Baker-Finch spent 19 years calling the action but retired from broadcasting at the Wyndham Championship. 

The former Open champion, who won the Claret Jug in 1991, joined the most recent edition of The Smylie Show to discuss the men's game and his career.

Baker-Finch said over his 30-year association with professional golf he has only seen pace of play get worse. 

He believes caddies are partly to blame, with exchanges between player and looper taking far longer than necessary. 

"It is so annoying to me on television," he said. "I've been watching it for 30 years and it's got worse and worse and worse. 

"How can you hit the shot in 40 seconds if the caddie talks for two and a half minutes?"

Baker-Finch explained that in his day he would jot down a few notes in his yardage book. 

Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus was the 'first guy' to take more detailed notes, he said.

"Everyone else just went by feel," he said. "'I hit 7-iron here yesterday, looks like 155, whatever.'"

Baker-Finch said players are now so precise they want to know yardages to the decimal point. 

He added: "Shut up. It's 110 yards. It’s a gap wedge. Don't be long because it's too fast down the hill.

"You come to a par-three tee and they take two minutes talking. You've played it the last three days! You know it's a 5-iron to the back pin, 6-iron to the front pin. Choose a club, get out of the way, let me hit the shot."

Pace of play on the PGA Tour has always been a talking point but the topic has been particularly noteworthy in 2025.

LPGA hall of famer turned golf commentator Dottie Pepper appeared to spark the debate in January when she broke ranks on the broadcast during the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. 

Pepper urged golfers to have more respect for fans. 

"It's just gotta get better," she said.

What is being done to speed up pace of play?

The PGA Tour claim they are making efforts to improve in this area.

On the developmental Korn Ferry, the Tour has now eliminated a 'free warning' for slow play, with golfers facing a one-stroke penalty if they receive a 'bad time'. 

Repeat offenders can expect two-shot penalties or even disqualification. 

The rule may be adopted on major tours, but no decision has been made yet. 

Elsewhere, the PGA Tour trialled allowing the using of rangefinders, though some argued the use of distance-measuring devices won't make a noticeable impact.

Beginning in 2026, many PGA Tour events will reduce field sizes from 156 to around 120-132. 

At the small-field signature events, placing groups in two-balls and over three-balls has substantially reduced round times. 

New leaderboard features on TV broadcasts also show the average group time. 

The Tour claim they may publish more data, effectively naming and shaming the dawdlers.