Bring a shot clock to the world of golf, Montgomerie says

Former European number one Colin Montgomerie believes the introduction of a shot clock would instantly solve the problem of slow play on the course.

The Scot, who topped the Order of Merit on an unprecedented eight occasions from the late 1990s onwards, thinks all players should be timed from the moment they tee off.

He said the “biggest bugbear” in golf was slow play and it needed to be tackled - and that meant applying penalties fairly across the board.

At The Open last week, 19-year-old Japanese player Hideki Matsuyama, who only turned professional in April, was penalised a stroke for slow play in his third round but no high-profile player has ever been punished.

“What I would love to see, as a fast player knowing it would never happen to me, would be for one of the top players to have that shot penalty and then it would really resonate throughout the rest of the field,” said the Scot, who tomorrow tees off in the Senior Open at Royal Birkdale, having turned 50 a month ago.

“If only one of them was finally found out because they are still taking too long.

“They should be playing in no more than four hours for any round of golf on any course.

“Unfortunately they are given far too long. Why do you have to wait to be slow before you are put on the clock?

“There are 52 referees out there at major championships and they should all have a clock - should be able to put them on the clock on the first tee to ensure they all get around in time.

“It has been mentioned about a shot clock and that is interesting: there should be an allotted time to play the game, like chess were you have a certain time to play.

“If the first two groups take five or more hours to go round then the day is gone, you can’t make it up.

“But if that first group takes four hours and five minutes then you have a chance.

“The biggest bugbear in golf is slow play.”