PGA Tour players respond to the slow play penalty Augusta National gave Tianlang Guan
On Friday afternoon at Augusta National something very strange happened. A player on the verge of making the cut got penalized for slow play, but it wasn't just any player, it was 14-year-old Tianlang Guan. The story of the first two days of the Masters is currently on the cut line at his first Masters, but was given a slow play penalty, something that rarely (if ever) happens in the game of golf.
People on Twitter were up in arms, but it was the PGA Tour players that spoke up the most. Some of the players that aren't in the field this week took to Twitter to express their concerns with the questionable decision. Ben Crenshaw, who played with Guan, said after, "This isn't going to wind up pretty. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry this happened."
Hear the rest of the PGA Tour speak up after the jump.
What message are we trying to send out to the world giving the 14 yr old kid a shot penalty today? It was a 6 hr round. Why single him out?
— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) April 13, 2013
What a terrible decision to penalize Guan. Yeah, maybe he was playing slowly but the kids trying to make history, just look the other way.
— Jamie Lovemark (@jamielovemark) April 12, 2013
Can't believe that they gave out a penalty to Guan at the masters. The fact that he is looking at tour players playing every week (cont… — Shane Lowry (@shanelowrygolf) April 12, 2013
…cont) like snails means that he plays the same way. This is a joke. Hope he makes the cut now.
— Shane Lowry (@shanelowrygolf) April 12, 2013
It never ceases to amaze me how rules are imparted on the innocent and the guilty get away with murder. #monty #vj — Gary Evans (@GaryEvansGolf) April 12, 2013
Wow.never heard of a player being pinged a 1 shot penalty for slow play.gutsy call to ping a 14 year old
— cameron percy (@cameronpercy1) April 12, 2013
Awesome performance by #Guan @the_masters still can't believe they penalized him. Go get it this weekend!
— Josh Teater (@jteater12) April 12, 2013
: I am sick to my stomach... REALLY! They pick this kid to make an example out of? Worst decision ever in golf!”// ruining a great story
— Steve Flesch (@Steve_Flesch) April 12, 2013
Can't say I feel good about the 1 stroke penalty on Guan. Of all the slow players, for so many years on tour,
— David Hearn (@HearnDavid) April 12, 2013
to penalize a 14 yr old in his first major doesn't make much sense. — David Hearn (@HearnDavid) April 12, 2013
