Leader of PGA TOUR Americas event receives one-stroke penalty for slow play

For the first time since PGA TOUR Americas implemented a new Pace of Play policy at the start of the year, a golfer received a one-stroke penalty for slow play.

First-round leader Hunter Wolcott received a one-stroke penalty Friday on his 16th hole, the seventh at Los Inkas Golf Club in Lima, Peru, during the second round of the Diners Club Peru Open.

Wolcott was leading at the time of the penalty and made a double-bogey on the hole. He finished 10-under through two rounds, still tied for the lead with Davis Lamb and David Perkins.

PGA TOUR Americas adopted a revised Pace of Play Policy prior to the start of its 2025 season, which included the assessment of a one-stroke penalty for the first “bad time” a player is given. A bad time occurs when a player exceeds the applicable time to play a stroke while being timed. Previously, a one-stroke penalty was not applied until a player received a second “bad time.”

Wolcott was assessed the penalty while putting on the seventh green. PGA TOUR Americas Rules determined that it took Wolcott, who was second to play on the green, 58 seconds to hit his putt. Under the revised Pace of Play policy, a player is permitted 40 seconds to play a stroke, and an extra 10 seconds is given under certain circumstances, such as the first player to play on the putting green. On the putting green, the timing of a player’s stroke begins when it is their turn to play and they can play without interference or distraction.

“It’s pretty unfortunate. I do think the rule is good to hurry up slow players,” said Wolcott, adding he disagreed with the penalty but would accept the ruling and move forward. “Nothing I can do about it now, still in a good spot. Happy about my game. Adds more fuel to the fire for the weekend.”

Wolcott said he hit his drive under a tree on the seventh hole, up against a tree root. He popped his shot up close to the green, then pitched it to about 25 feet. That’s when the penalty occurred as he took too long to hit his par putt, which he eventually missed, leading to a double-bogey.

Wolcott said he was “flustered” from the situation, but was able to bounce back with a birdie on the ninth hole, his last of the day, to finish in a tie for the lead. This is Wolcott’s fourth PGA TOUR Americas start of the season. His best finish is a T35 at the 93 Abierto Telecom del Centro presentado por Zurich.

This revised policy also recently took effect on the Korn Ferry Tour, beginning two weeks ago at the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Wolcott is the first player on either tour to receive a one-stroke penalty.