Ohio Golf Journal July 2018

clock started, so everyone knew what was happening. What were the results? The average time for each round of the 2017 Austrian Open was 4 hours and 40 minutes. The Shot Clock format shaved 25 minutes off that total this year. The AVERAGE TIME FOR THE ÚNAL round on the European Tour is 3 hours and 57minutes, but at the Shot Clock Masters, it was reduced to 3 hours and 26 minutes. A full 31 minutes less! There were only four penalties meted out in the four days of competition and players seemed to be pleased with the event. Fans AND %UROPEAN 4OUR OFÚCIALS all seemed to be happy with the results. The PGA Tour and the USGA have yet to comment on the unique event. In addition, the argument that rushing shots produces poor scores did not prove valid. The average score for the entire Shot Clock Masters was more than one stroke less than the average for the past eight years of the Austrian Open on the same course. Cutting 30 minutes from the average time of a round and posting lower scores is certainly eye-opening. The Shot Clock may be radical change, but it was successful. The question is will it catch on in America? Ohio Golf Journal