Jon Rahm proposes major rule change to tackle slow play after Open controversy

Jon Rahm targets slow play at majors with new rule proposal

Jon Rahm has called for a change to how pace-of-play penalties are enforced at golf majors, arguing that warnings should stay with a player for the full tournament. The Spaniard’s comments come after The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale stretched past six hours in its opening rounds.

What happened at The Open?

Ryan Fox won The Open on 21 July at Royal Birkdale after a final-round charge, sealing the Claret Jug with a 22-second putt on the 72nd hole. The New Zealander’s victory capped a tournament where early rounds dragged on for nearly six hours, fueling debate over slow play. Rahm, meanwhile, drew attention in the second round when he threw his club after a wayward tee shot.

Why it matters for Jon Rahm

Rahm has long been vocal about pace-of-play issues, and his latest remarks focus on the structure of major championships. He pointed to the sheer number of players-156 at The Open-as a core reason for delays, noting that smaller fields in events like LIV Golf rarely face the same problems.

“When you go to a major Thursday, Friday, you know it’s going to be five and a half hours. It’s just what it is,” Rahm said. He added that the difficulty of major setups and weather conditions also drags out rounds, especially when players miss greens and face tough chips.

Jon Rahm’s solution to slow play

Rahm suggested that keeping pace warnings active for the entire tournament-not just for one round-could push players to speed up. He argued that the current system lets slow groups off the hook too easily, while smaller fields in other events prove that faster play is possible.

“When you’re playing in the playoffs and you have 70 players or less, pace of play is never an issue,” he said. “It gets to a point where you can only do so much, but the nature of the game means delays pile up when fields are large.”

Rahm’s proposal arrives as golf’s governing bodies continue to tweak rules around pace of play. His stance contrasts with critics who blame individual players for overrunning schedules, though he insists the issue is systemic rather than personal.

What comes next?

The PGA Tour and R&A have not yet responded to Rahm’s suggestion. His idea could gain traction if other top players rally behind it, especially as majors face growing scrutiny over slow rounds. For now, Rahm remains focused on his own game after a mixed Open performance that included his club-throwing incident.

Fox’s victory marked the first major win for the 34-year-old New Zealander, who edged Sam Burns by one stroke. The tournament’s early rounds averaged nearly six hours, a figure Rahm says is inevitable with 156 players in the field.

Rahm, 28, has won two majors himself and remains a vocal advocate for changes that could improve the fan experience without compromising the challenge of major setups.