Winner on the PGA Tour America after being penalized suddenly for slow game!

The new PGA Tour directives to stem the slow game implemented on its secondary circuits made a victim this week in Peru. But despite a penalty point received for having waited too much before putter, the American player Hunter Wolcott managed to win in a PGA Tour America tournament.

« I first had the impression of being the victim of an injustice, I will not lie to you. » Hunter Wolcott did not appreciate, far from it, the penalty suddenly which was inflicted on Friday during the 3rd round of the Diners Club Peru Open, an event of the PGA Tour America. On the Green du Trou n ° 16, the player took 58 seconds before playing his putt for par. It’s too much. Forty seconds are allowed.

The new policy, which entered into force at the end of March, states that players are entitled to 40 seconds to play a blow, with 10 additional seconds for specific situations. In particular the one where the player must play first. Which was not the case with Wolcott, who played in the second on this green. He was therefore in violation of an overtaking time of 18 seconds.

I was very bitter, very angry after this penalty

The future winner Hunter Wolcott

In the previous policy practiced on the secondary circuits of the PGA Tour, the players had to have committed two offenses to be inflicted a penalty at once. From now on, the penalty suddenly comes from the first embodiment. If there is a second “bad time”, it is a penalty of two strokes which is inflicted on the player. A third? It is disqualification.

Although this measure may seem severe, it has clearly had a positive effect on Wolcott which has not received other penalties for slow play in the last two days. And he ended up winning the tournament with a total score of -19.

Soon on the PGA Tour?

« I was very angry on Friday, very bitter “Said Wolcott afterwards.

« I prayed a lot, I discussed a lot with my fiancée, with my mental coach, to overcome this and to be able to turn the page and realize that there are still 36 golf holes to play. Doing this and getting out of winner is an incredible feeling ».

The winner of the Dinners Club Peru Open 2025 did not exactly be honorable for his slow game. But this story shows two things: that the policy implemented by the PGA Tour on its secondary circuits (including on the Korn Ferry Tour since April) to thwart the slow game is really applied and that players can change their attitude, especially with sanctions like this.

No doubt the PGA Tour will eventually apply this policy to its main circuit. No doubt. If the problem continues.