Even without any live, televised golf, Golf Twitter has still managed to keep the complain-machine running at a high speed during the pandemic. Last week, it was Vijay Singh who set social media ablaze with his decision to enter a Korn Ferry Tour Event.
Over the weekend, Joel Dahmen’s 58 on his home course was met with criticism of his group’s perceived lack of social distancing. If you thought coronavirus was going to stop people from a engaging in a high-horse-off, you were sorely mistaken.
This week, we’re back on J.B. Holmes for… yep, you guessed it, his pace of play. How is this possible, you ask, as there is no live golf on our television screens? Well, someone on Twitter decided to rewatch the 2005 Walker Cup, which Holmes participated in as a member of the United States team. As this video captured by @GolfGuy77 shows, Holmes’ pace of play has never been good. Although, after watching this, you could make a legitimate case that it’s improved:
Was watching last night the 2005 Walker Cup at Chicago Golf Club. This wedge shot on 14 from J.B. Holmes is mind boggling. Over 1:30 to hit the shot. Safe to say he wasn’t any faster of a player in college. pic.twitter.com/7BA6ZOLkSe
— Chris (@GolfGuy77) May 12, 2020
My goodness. Roger Maltbie couldn’t have said it any better when he said “I think it’s fair to say he’s never in a hurry.” Yes Rog, that seems fair! Those words still ring true to this day:
As you probably recall, this was Holmes at the 2019 Genesis Invitational, which he went on to win. Earlier that season, Holmes was also criticised for his glacial pace at Torrey Pines, where he took nearly five minutes to hit a shot in the 72nd fairway. At the Open Championship, Holmes found himself in contention on the weekend, and was equally lambasted for his tortoise-like ways at Royal Portrush. As the old Walker Cup footage proves, some things never change.
