"People play way, way too slow," he said.
Maybe it's just a coincidence, but Woods' comment came a week after the Match Play, where he played J.B. Holmes in the first round. Holmes already has a reputation as among the tortoises on tour, although not quite to the level of Ben Crane.
He visualizes each shot. He makes quick, repeating practice strokes with every club.
And he makes few apologies.
"A lot of old habits kick in when you're under pressure," Holmes said. "You're playing for $1 million. If somebody thinks I'm slow, or taking long, I don't care. Personally, I don't want to take that long. I'm working on that. I would rather be slow and win than rush something, hit a bad shot and not win."
Goydos and Olin Browne were among those who see no simple solution because of so many factors involved in modern golf.
— In the summer, a 156-man field means putting 26 groups of three on each side of the course in the morning and afternoon. That's bound to lead to backups.
— With modern technology, more players can reach par 5s in two or go for the green on short par 4s.
— With greens running as fast as linoleum floors, players take more care (and more time) on and around the putting surface.
— More care (and time) is given to each shot when the average purse is in the $6 million range.
"Everyone knows who they are," Jerry Kelly said of the slow players. "We need to single them out."
Money apparently is no object. Players who are put on the clock 10 times during a season are fined $20,000. Crane has averaged just under $1.5 million a year in his five healthy years on tour. That amounts to just over 1 percent of his earnings.
The other alternative is being more aggressive with penalty strokes.
Look no further than Sunday in Hawaii on the LPGA Tour, when Angela Park was assessed a two-shot penalty for slow play in the final round. She was in the thick of contention and wound up three shots out of the lead.
Asked about adding shots to slow players, Woods said that might be the solution, "but the guys are a little sensitive about that."
Still, it is becoming a matter of credibility.
Drug testing starts in July. How will anyone believe the tour will suspend someone for one year and fine him $500,000 for a doping offense when it won't assess a one-shot penalty for taking too long with a 5-iron to the green?
Even then, it might not matter.
One of the legends about Ben Hogan is the time a U.S. Open rules official warned him for slow play.
"If you're going to penalize me, do it now so I know where I stand," Hogan replied. "I'm not playing any faster."
