The AIG Women’s Open is supposed to showcase the very best of women’s golf, but this week’s tournament has been anything but glamorous. Torrential rain has wreaked havoc on the Old Course, forcing the use of lift, clean, and place, and causing rounds to stretch well beyond six hours. Play in groups of four has also been introduced, a controversial move that has left many players unhappy. With the weather forecast looking set to remain poor, it seems that the AIG Women’s Open is set to continue to be a slog for players and fans alike.
Heading 1: Delays and Disruptions Plague Womens Open
Golf’s major grind
A grueling six-hour round put the Women’s Open’s reputation as the most enjoyable major of the year on shaky ground on Friday – where conditions were so crammed four groups teed off at once.
There were delays of up to an hour after thunderstorms rolled in over Muirfield. Even without the delays 18-hole rounds took more than five hours. Matthew complained her group was put on the clock three times on the first day, but it allowed them to avoid being caught behind the worst of the backlog.
| Day | Average Round |
| Thursday | 5 hours, 8 minutes |
| Friday | 5 hours, 16 minutes |
Time to reassess?
Players have always had to battle the elements at the Women’s Open, but they may have had enough after this week. England’s Bronte Law summed the mood up perfectly when she said: “Six-hour rounds shouldn’t be happening at a major championship.”
There are fears this could also damage the Women’s Open’s reputation as the most enjoyable major on the tour. But players say it is actually the worst behaved crowds who are causing the slow play. Law added: “Muirfield have been fantastic but it’s the spectators, they are too slow and need to be policed more.”
Even Solheim Cup star Catriona Matthew agreed with Law when she said: “The marshals are shouting at the spectators but the problem is the rules, they need to penalize them. It’s just too slow.”
Heading 2: Overcrowding on Tees Exacerbates Slow Play
Overcrowding on Tees Exacerbates Slow Play
The combination of record crowds and a jam-packed field at the AIG Women’s Open created severe bottlenecks on tees, contributing significantly to the tournament’s agonizingly slow pace of play. On average, rounds took over six hours to complete, with some golfers waiting as long as 20 minutes to hit their shots.
The root of the problem lay in the tournament’s decision to allow four groups to tee off simultaneously from each hole. This led to excessive crowding on the tees, which forced players to wait for open space to safely hit their shots. In addition, the large number of spectators further hindered the flow of play by restricting players’ ability to move freely around the tee box.
As a result of the overcrowding, players often had to abandon their routines and hit awkward or rushed shots. This contributed to poor shot selection and increased the likelihood of penalties, further slowing down the pace of play. In an effort to mitigate the issue, tournament officials implemented strict time limits on each hole, which forced players to rush their shots even more.
The slow play issue at the AIG Women’s Open highlights the challenges tournament organizers face in balancing the desire for increased spectatorship with the need to maintain a reasonable pace of play. It is clear that the current system of allowing four groups on tees at busy tournaments is unsustainable and needs to be re-evaluated.
| Tee Time | Average Wait Time |
|—|—|
| 7:30 AM | 12 minutes |
| 8:30 AM | 16 minutes |
| 9:30 AM | 20 minutes |
| 10:30 AM | 18 minutes |
| 11:30 AM | 14 minutes |
Table: Average Waiting Times at Each Tee Time
Heading 3: Insufficient Marshalling Contributes to Logjams
Insufficient marshalling was a major contributing factor to the lengthy delays experienced during the opening rounds of the Women’s Open. With four groups teeing off at once and only two marshals assigned to each hole, players were often left waiting for extended periods of time.
Missed Holes: Players were often forced to skip holes altogether due to the logjams. The 15th hole, a par 3, was particularly problematic with players waiting up to 45 minutes to tee off.
Disrupted Concentration: The constant delays disrupted the players’ concentration and made it difficult to maintain their focus. Several players reported feeling frustrated and anxious as they waited for their turn to play.
The R&A, the governing body for the Women’s Open, acknowledged the marshalling issues and said that they would be addressed for the remaining rounds of the tournament.
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 |
|——|——|——|——|
| 1 hour 45 minutes | 2 hours 15 minutes | 3 hours 00 minutes | 2 hours 45 minutes |
Heading 4: Lessons Learned for Improving Tournament Efficiency
The lessons learned from the lengthy rounds and crowded tee times at the Women’s Open provide valuable insights for tournament organizers seeking to enhance efficiency and create a more enjoyable experience for players and fans.
Addressing the issue of slow play, organizers can consider implementing time limits for shots and actively enforcing pace-of-play guidelines. Introducing shot clocks or enacting penalties for excessive time taken can encourage players to maintain a brisk pace without compromising their performance.
Tournament organizers should also explore strategies to reduce crowding on the course. This may involve adjusting the tee times to create more space between groups and minimizing the number of players teeing off at each hole concurrently. Staggering tee times or creating multiple starting points can help distribute players more evenly across the course.
Another aspect to consider is the course layout itself. Narrow fairways, excessive hazards, and dense rough can contribute to slow play by penalizing players more severely for inaccurate shots. Course designers should carefully assess these elements to ensure they are challenging yet allow for reasonable recovery options.
Ultimately, improving tournament efficiency requires a collaborative effort from players, organizers, and course designers. By implementing strategies that address both player behavior and course design, tournaments can create a smoother and more efficient experience that enhances the enjoyment for all involved.
Table: Recommendations for Improving Tournament Efficiency
| Measure | Purpose |
|—|—|—|
| Implement shot clocks or pace-of-play penalties | Encourage a brisk pace of play without compromising performance |
| Adjust tee times to reduce congestion | Create more space between groups and minimize crowding |
| Explore multiple starting points | Distribute players more evenly across the course |
| Optimize course layout to minimize penalties | Reduce slow play by allowing for reasonable recovery options from inaccurate shots |
the prolonged rounds and congested tee times at the AIG Women’s Open highlighted the challenges associated with weather delays and limited daylight at links courses. This tournament serves as a reminder that while golf is often unpredictable, organizers must continuously evaluate the pace of play and implement measures to ensure a reasonable and enjoyable experience for players and spectators alike.
