What is the Shot Clock Masters?
We’ve had GolfSixes, we’ve had the Belgian Knockout, and now it’s time for the European Tour’s latest invention: the Shot Clock Masters.
Played at Diamond Country Club near Vienna in Austria, the Shot Clock Masters is essentially a continuation of the Lyoness Open, and previously the Austrian Open which dates back to 1990 when Bernhard Langer lifted the trophy.
So what’s new in Keith Pelley’s latest innovation this week? Well, the clue is in the name.
In an effort to speed up the pace of play in professional golf, each player in the field will be put on a clock for every shot.
How does it work?
Every player will be timed on every shot, with the European Tour’s shot time allowances in force: a 50-second allowance for a “first to play approach shot, chip or putt” and a 40-second allowance for a “tee shot on a par four or par five, or second or third to play approach shot, chip or putt”.
But what happens if a player takes longer than their allotted time? Simple: a one-shot penalty will be added to their score.
Your 40 seconds starts…. now! ⏲️#ShotClockMasters pic.twitter.com/ta59COkcYn
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) June 6, 2018
However, if a player believes they need a little more time to hit their shot, they can call on a “time-extension” twice in one round, which will give them an extra 40-seconds to hit.
A buggy will travel with each group, where a digital clock will be operated by a referee who will determine when to start the clock for each shot.
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Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
