Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has taken a clear position on a contentious issue in the sport. The AimPoint method, which helps golfers determine their putting line on the green, has faced criticism from those who do not utilize it, claiming it slows down the pace of play on the PGA Tour. Spiranac aligns with this viewpoint after witnessing an LPGA Tour player performing their AimPoint routine just a foot from the hole. She expressed her opinion on social media, stating, “Ban AimPoint,” alongside an image of the player in question.
The topic of slow play has become increasingly controversial in golf, particularly as tournament rounds, such as the Farmers Insurance Open, have stretched to nearly six hours. PGA Tour golfer Lucas Glover discussed the issue on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, noting that while there is no definitive evidence linking AimPoint to slow play, the time taken to read the greens can be excessive, and the outcomes are not necessarily superior to other techniques. Glover remarked, “AimPoint statistically hasn’t helped anybody make more putts since its inception on the PGA Tour; statistics have shown that.” He also highlighted the inconvenience of players walking close to the hole to assess the break before returning to their ball. “It’s also kind of rude to be up near the hole and stomping around, figuring out where the break is in your feet. It needs to be banned. It takes forever,” he added.
Conversely, some argue that if more players adopted AimPoint, it could actually expedite the game. Jamie Donaldson, a senior instructor in Europe, stated, “It would speed up play as it takes an average of 10 seconds to get a read.” Collin Morikawa, a proponent of AimPoint, responded to Glover’s comments by suggesting a ban on “long putters,” which Glover uses.
Currently, the PGA Tour will continue to permit AimPoint, but the discussion surrounding pace of play is expected to remain a significant topic in the future.