PGA Tour changes rule and adds disqualification threat after Rory McIlroy’s Masters win.

The PGA Tour has announced that players will be permitted to use rangefinders on the “distance-only” setting during games, following Rory McIlroy’s Masters win.

In a bid to boost the pace of play, the PGA Tour is testing the waters with rangefinders. It is a move that comes fresh off the heels of Rory McIlroy’s Masters triumph, where there were questions over some play from some of the competitors on show.

McIlroy, 35, clinched his first Green Jacket in a nail-biting playoff against Justin Rose. He joins an exclusive group as the sixth golfer to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the first since the legendary Tiger Woods did so in 2000. But his Masters had got off initially to a poor start. Golf Channel analyst Paul McGinley suggested that McIlroy’s initial struggles were down to playing partner Akshay Bhatia, and his slow play.

“I think he lost focus,” McGinley noted. “He took quite a while to hit that pitch shot. His partner, Akshay Bhatia, had just hit his second shot into the water, and then he took about 10 practice swings before playing.

“Normally, he’s a fast player who likes to keep the pace up, but in that moment, he was clearly distracted. I’m not blaming Bhatia or the players leaving the 16th green — it was just a lapse in concentration. That’s something top-level champions usually avoid, and I believe his struggles on the 17th hole were a consequence of that.”

This incident highlights the PGA Tour’s ongoing push to tackle the persistent problem of slow play, which has frustrated many players, including Rory McIlroy.

To help speed up the game, the Tour is introducing rangefinders with a “distance-only” mode, aiming to reduce time spent on calculating yardages. These devices will be permitted starting with the RBC Heritage and Corales Puntacana events, and will also be allowed at the Truist Championship and the Oneflight Myrtle Beach Classic.

Players must stick strictly to the distance-only feature. Violating this rule will bring a two-stroke penalty for the first offense and disqualification for a second.

When asked how the game could be sped up before the Pebble Beach tournament, McIlroy admitted he didn’t have a clear answer. He acknowledged that modern courses like Torrey Pines are more complex, and that variables like wind and green speeds complicate play. While he floated the idea of smaller fields to ease congestion, he admitted that could reduce opportunities for players and might not be well-received.

He also pointed out that, during this time of year, tee times are packed closely together to ensure all players finish before dark. More spacing might help pace of play, but it’s a trade-off.

“These days, players go for the green in two on par 5s, which causes delays. Longer par 3s also slow things down. It’s a lot of factors. Maybe you can shave off 15 or 20 minutes, but that still turns a five-and-a-half-hour round into one that’s five hours and 15 minutes. Is that enough to really make a difference? I’m not sure.”