PGA Tour told they 'bottled' Patrick Cantlay decision at season finale

English professional golfer Eddie Pepperell says the PGA Tour should 'look at themselves in the mirror' after 'bottling' the decision not to hand out a penalty to Patrick Cantlay during the $40m season finale. 

Cantlay finished runner-up to a tearful Tommy Fleetwood last week at East Lake, ultimately finishing three shots behind the Englishman. 

The U.S. golfer showed signs that he is returning to form and is expected to be handed a captain's pick for next month's Ryder Cup.

But he once again rubbed some viewers the wrong way with his deliberate pace of play at the Tour Championship. 

Cantlay was playing in the final pairing with Fleetwood and the duo were told to get a move on after falling behind at the driveable par-4 8th. 

In fairness, it's a devilish hole fraught with danger. But some felt Cantlay did not need to address his ball and shuffle his feet for more than 20 seconds before making contact.

DP World Tour pro Romain Langasque hit out on X, describing Cantlay's pace as 'terrible', while Phil Mickelson chimed in with a perfect joke about his calves.

Pepperell appears to be in agreement that Cantlay was dawdling, telling the most recent edition of The Chipping Forecast the golfer was 'abysmally slow'. 

"I thought it was quite telling, the cheers he [Fleetwood] was getting when Patrick Canley wasn't," he said. 

"It was clear who was most popular of those two."

Podcast host Andrew Cotter pointed out Fleetwood's popularity in the final grouping was owing to the fact he did not take 'half an hour' to hit a drive.

Added Pepperell: "Well, if ever there was an opportunity last night for the PGA Tour to hand out a penalty for slow play, it was to Patrick Canley, and once again they bottled it. 

"And they should seriously look at themselves in the mirror, because that was the perfect opportunity to throw a penalty at Patrick Canley. 

"He was abysmally slow, and that was the reason why they were two holes behind. But they didn't, unsurprisingly."

The 2025 Tour Championship was not the first time Cantlay has faced slow play accusations. 

Cantlay got on Brooks Koepka's nerves during the final round of the 2023 Masters - the LIV Golf recruit later complained he had to wait on every shot on the back nine. 

For his part, Cantlay has never truly engaged in the debate. 

He has admitted that he is 'slower than average' but doesn't appear to believe his pace is egregious. 

PGA Tour member Michael Kim has told his 190,000 followers on X that Cantlay is definitely not the slowest player at the elite level. 

The PGA Tour claim they are trying to improve pace of play. 

Earlier in the year, the established circuit permitted a trial use of rangefinders. 

The Tour also announced plans to effectively name and shame golfers by releasing data, as well as disclosing fines and penalties for members who rack up bad times.