"Guys it's not hard" - Major champ issues direct message to slow pro golfers

Reigning Open champion Ryan Fox has urged professional golfers to simply be ready when it's their turn to hit.

Slow play remains a persistent challenge across the PGA and DP World Tour. 

Both tours have introduced measures to address slow play, including reducing field sizes, allowing the use of distance-measuring devices, publishing player speed statistics and imposing fines. 

However, many observers argue that introducing shot penalties is the only effective way to tackle the problem.

"I mean, I think pace of play is a tough one, right?" Fox told reporters ahead of the DP World India Championship when asked about the topic. 

"Like I obviously play fast. I always have. 

"It's kind of frustrating when it's slow, but I also understand the fact that most of the time we're playing for a lot every week in terms of ranking points and money and everything else that comes with a golf tournament. 

"We're playing a golf course set up as hard as it can be. Greens generally as fast as they'll ever be [and] the rough is up.

"So it takes time and some of the decision making around shots is pretty difficult. I don't know what you can comment rules-wise." 

Fox said that he previously served on the DP World Tour's committee and was involved in "robust discussions" on how to resolve the issue once and for all. 

"It's pretty hard to have a rule that's just around common sense," added Fox. 

"It has to be written down properly because guys are complain if it's not right there next explicit.

"So, yeah, I think it's one of those ones. 

"My pet peeve is just guys not being ready when that's their turn. I don't think you can legislate that by rules. 

"It's just a bit of education, going, hey, guys it's not hard to get your number, to have made your decision, and when it's your turn to go you can be ready to go.

"There is obviously going to be some exceptions to that around a ruling or you're directly in someone's line or whatever else. But I guess, yeah, if we could have more guys ready when it's their turn that would be great. 

"I think a lot of guys do a good job of that, but there is definitely a select few that struggle with it.

"I guess it is what it is. If everyone played as fast as me that would be nice, but I know that's not going to be the case."

Fox calls for PGA Tour to elevate international events

Sweeping changes are coming to the PGA Tour in 2028, with the introduction of a two-tier system. 

Players will alternate between a Championship and Challenger Series based on their performance. 

Fox said the schedule changes will give players based in the United States more scope to travel abroad once the season concludes. 

But he believes some golfers might only broaden their horizons if events are given more of a signature status. 

"I like the idea of trying to elevate some events around the world," said Fox. 

"I would certainly like to see, if maybe not to the majors, but some kind of elevated international schedule, like there is a real big market for it in the Asia-Pacific region especially. 

He added: "We have got the Asia-Pacific Amateur coming up in New Zealand in a couple weeks, and I played in the first one of those in 2009 and that event has gone from strength to strength, and we can do something like that at a professional level I think.

"I would say you could probably get away with more than one [elevated event] in Asia. 

"There is some huge markets all through Asia, and I know golf is a really popular sport around Asia. 

"I think they could definitely have a couple events."