Will Zalatoris shares the simple fix he believes could get golf rounds under four hours

Slow play looks set to be one of the main issues at the start of the new PGA Tour season, with several full-field events on the calendar.

Early 2025 felt sluggish in places, especially during tournaments like The American Express and Farmers Insurance Open, which prompted the Tour to address concerns.

While field sizes in 2026 aren’t quite as large as last year, pace of play is still likely to be a hot topic heading into Pebble Beach’s opening signature event.

Will Zalatoris sees an easy fix for slow play

Zalatoris was asked about how advances in equipment, which allow amateurs to hit the ball much farther, have affected the pace of play. Of course, most casual golfers are familiar with the uncertainty that comes with stepping up to a tee not knowing where their drive will end up.

And speaking to Fried Egg Golf, Zalatoris suggested that he is convinced that reducing the length of golf courses would tackle the problem almost immediately.

“It’s funny, and I’ve had this conversation with multiple people from the USGA that are just buddies shooting the breeze. They’ve asked me what’s your stance? I’m like, you want to know how to get under four hours real quick, draw it back to where the longest guy is 260 yards. That’s real easy,” he said.

“Instead of walking back 80 yards to this new tee you guys are so proud of that costs $100,000 to build, how about we play the old tee. That saved us a little bit of time there. Now the walking in between holes gets faster.”

Will Zalatoris explains the issue with golf ball rollback only applying to the pro game

The sport is also edging closer to significant changes regarding ball distance limits.

From 2028, balls used in professional play will travel shorter distances, with amateur players required to adopt the same standards by 2030.

There are growing concerns about the sustainability of golf as players continue to hit longer distances.

Some argue that restrictions should only apply at the top level. However, Zalatoris raised concerns about having separate rules and equipment for professionals and amateurs who aim to reach that level.

“I’m all for the ball going way shorter. But it has to be done the right way,” he said.

Zalatoris went on to add: “The issue where I got lost with it too is when the talk of bifurcation in general [began]. You look at it in terms of player development, does a kid who, let’s say they’re a pro level [and] the PGA Tour decides to bifurcate, the problem with that in general is does the kid now play, in theory, inferior equipment while they’re in college and going through development to get to the PGA Tour? Or do they play what’s thought of superior equipment and then they get to tour and then play something completely different? There’s no win.”

Many fans would be disappointed if players like Rory McIlroy or Bryson DeChambeau were no longer able to hit 350-yard drives so easily.

But golf is a game crying out for evolution. Many courses on today’s PGA Tour lack inspiration, relying heavily on distance as their primary challenge.

The sport would benefit from courses that penalise aggressive driver use more effectively. As Zalatoris points out, such setups could also help speed up play across tournaments.