Camilo Villegas: A Radical Approach to Slow Play in Golf
Camilo Villegas, well-known in the golfing world for his innovative approach to the sport, has stirred the pot by suggesting some dramatic new measures to combat slow play in professional golf. As golf fans gear up for the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii, Villegas has put forward an idea that has caught the attention – both positive and negative – of his peers and fans alike. His plan involves naming and shaming slow players and making a visual statement by having their caddies don fluorescent orange bibs. The core of his argument? The current penalties are just not cutting it.
Villegas is not just talking about these issues in passing. He has skin in the game, both literally and metaphorically. Having experienced firsthand the frustration of delays during Korn Ferry Tour events, Villegas draws from these moments to support his case. He’s particularly concerned about how frequently the game drags on due to lack of adherence to pace. His colorful suggestion is seen as a way to pinpoint and punish those at fault, making the problem visible not just to the fans but to the players themselves.
Challenges and Pushback
The idea is not without its challenges and critics, though. Villegas himself notes the resistance to such methods from PGA Tour officials. The prospect of publicly shaming players by highlighting their names prominently in locker rooms or through having their caddies stand out in bright orange might seem extreme to some. Michael Kim's orange bib suggestion became a stepping-off point for Villegas, but the reality is that such a proposal, as per Villegas, is unlikely to see the light of day without substantial support.
Despite these challenges, Villegas remains undeterred. Being part of the Player Advisory Council in 2024 and currently holding a position on the Policy Board, he is committed to tackling this issue head-on in future PGA Tour meetings. His advocacy escalates in these discussions as he emphasizes the critical need to improve pace, especially after disappointing experiences with delays at events like the Korn Ferry Tour, where his patience was tested.
Interestingly, at the very tournament where he hopes to inspire change – the 2025 Sony Open – Villegas himself faces the consequences of slow play. Delays due to darkness saw him miss the cut, a bitter irony given his active stance on expediting the game.
While his proposition for public shaming is bold, it raises the question: Is naming and shaming with fluorescent bibs the spark needed for faster play, or is it merely a conversation starter addressing a sometimes sluggish sport? It's this ongoing conversation that Villegas is counting on to drive change, even if it's one slow step at a time.