Slow Play: Is playing with Kevin Na really unfair?

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
Fact Check: Is playing with Kevin Na really unfair?

By Luke Kerr-Dineen

Robert Garrigus' caddie, Brent Henley, made news over the weekend at the Valspar Championship when he criticized Kevin Na's slow play.

"It ain't fair playing with Kevin Na," Henley told Golfweek after Saturday's round. Garrigus shot a one-under 70 on Saturday -- the day he and Na were put on the clock by officials -- followed by a five-over 75 on Sunday, leaving the 54-hole leader T-4.

Related: Na a visceral reminder of golf's slow-play issues

Henley's claim stuck with us. Is it really unfair to play with Kevin Na? Or was Henley just saying stuff? We crunched the numbers, and it turns out that Kevin Na's slow play does seem to have a small but significant effect on his playing partners' score.

We analyzed the scores of every one of Kevin Na's playing partners since the start of 2012 -- the year Na's slow pace of play at that year's Players caused a stir -- and compared it to their average score for that round from that year. So, for example, if Player X played with Kevin Na in the third round of a 2013 tournament and shot 72, we compared that score to his third round scoring average from that year.

How'd it turn out? From the start of 2012 through the 2014 Valspar Championship, Kevin Na has played with 220 PGA Tour golfers. On average, those 220 golfers shoot about 0.4 strokes higher when playing with Na. That's almost half a stroke, meaning that if someone plays with Na in all four rounds of a tournament, he'll be expected to shoot 1.6 strokes higher than if he played with someone else.

Related: Fact Check: Is Patrick Reed really a top five player in the world?

If 0.4 shots doesn't sound like a lot, consider it this way: Robert Garrigus played with Kevin Na on Saturday and Sunday at the Valspar and finished the tournament four under. Suppose Garrigus didn't play with Na and was able to save that almost one shot he seemed to have lost. Obviously, Na's pace of play isn't the only factor (and to Na's credit he has gotten better). But the truth is that Garrigus would probably have finished at five under for the tournament and T-3 with Scott Langley, rather than in a three-way tie for fourth. So, how much was that shot worth? More than $150,000.

Turns out his caddie may have been onto something.

That is indeed very very lengthy pre shot routine. Will die watching him doing waggles and not pulling the trigger.. Suspect

he's actually sped up a lot since last year! i was watching the tournament last weekend and he's actually noticeably faster :)found this comparison video!

and just for fun, who could ever forget this? LOL

My God! Cannot imagine if my flightmate is slow like him. It's so excruciatingly painful just watching him go through the routine.
I would be worried about the flight behind becoming impatient with our flight and start to hit shots that are within range. And this can happen to social golfers but unlikely in the Pro circuit.

Super Active Golfer Posts : 1111 Join date : 2010-09-20

Kevin Na reminds me of Sergio Garcia in the early days...but at least Sergio was a tad quicker...

Below is a good read on the Valspar game :
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1995688-pga-tour-needs-to-re-examine-slow-play-policy-after-valspar-championship?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=golf

Sergio Garcia used to take "eons" to hit the ball ... He had the habit of gripped and ungripped the club when addressing the ball for more than 30 times ... I wonder how he ultimately managed to overcome this flaw ...

Senior Golfer Posts : 336 Join date : 2009-08-10

Daztasiumz wrote:

Call the marshal!! wah liew!

Imagined if he does all those waggles n preshot stuff during his 16?

Daztasiumz wrote:: Imagined if he does all those waggles n preshot stuff during his 16?

He is worse off than a social golfer ... Laughing

He shld jus take a few yrs off see a shrink and get well soon

I wonder what make a golfer take such a long routine before hitting a shot. Is it due to lack of confidence?

More like a mental thingy

Daztasiumz wrote:: More like a mental thingy

Maybe lack of confidence since childhood time ...

Need to see a shrink to get rid of all the childhood demons affecting his confidence.. such a long pre shot routine...

My game is definitely affected if and when we are holding up the flight behind us due to slow play. In that sense, yes, it is unfair playing with Kevin. I do hope he can get rid of his demons, whatever. I believe it is not intentional on his part.

Maybe the PGA should allow Kevin Na to play alone.

TDO wrote:: Maybe the PGA should allow Kevin Na to play alone.

And on the last flight!

Broadcast timing gotta lengthen

Hope the young golfers don't follow his routine

Maybe can inject commercial breaks during his preshot routine

Gofnut wrote:

TDO wrote:: Maybe the PGA should allow Kevin Na to play alone.

And on the last flight!

Wah imagine on a sunday and he is in contention

Last flight plenty of screen time

Hall of Fame Golfer Posts : 8185 Join date : 2009-06-19

I am a Sensitive New Age Golfer....I get affected when my flt mate backoff after standing on the tee.

Seriously, if one needs to play like him, he should really stop playing. It doesnt matter if he had improved...nett...its still slow.

My personal hope and wish: One gets 3 practise strokes....and then swing. If take more than that or back off, penalty.

And on the last flight!

Ya, and after all the flights in front of him finished their games and spectators left the stands, he will be left alone to finish his game.

» so....how do you handle a slow playing mate?
» Started losing friends - after playing SLOW golf
» Slow play at PGA
» USGA Slow Play Videos
» Ben Crane on Slow Play