Padraig Harrington has voiced strong criticism of a golf rule change implemented seven years ago, ahead of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills this week. The three-time major winner expressed his disdain for the 2019 decision by The R&A and USGA to reduce the time players have to find a lost ball from five minutes to three minutes.
Harrington's Criticism of the Rule Change
Harrington, 54, who qualified for the US Open by winning the Senior Open Championship last year, described the rule change as the worst he has ever seen. He argued that the decision was made for the wrong reasons and lacks logic. According to Harrington, the governing bodies aimed to speed up play, particularly at the amateur level, but the reduction from five to three minutes is counterproductive.
“The worst rule change I've ever seen is the three-minute rule change for a lost ball,” Harrington told Life on Tour. “One, they changed it for the wrong reason. So, they changed the rule because amateur golfers were taking 10 minutes, nine, 10 minutes, instead of five. So they decided, well, if they're taking twice the time, let's cut it back to three, and then they'll probably look for five. That's the logic behind it. There is zero logic in that.”
Harrington's Preferred Approach
Harrington believes that the five-minute limit was reasonable and that officials should enforce it strictly. He noted that professionals typically search for three minutes anyway, but the change creates confusion. “The fact of the matter is, it should be five and a strict five,” he insisted. “It's up to the amateurs to look for five minutes. The professionals, we all look for three minutes. You know, the minute we hit the zone to look for the golf ball, my caddie will start a stopwatch. That's it.”
He added that three minutes passes very quickly, especially when players must walk to the area and begin searching. Harrington expects chaos at the US Open due to the dense rough at Shinnecock Hills, which could lead to many lost balls.
Harrington's US Open Prospects
Despite his criticism, Harrington is looking forward to competing in his first US Open since 2023. He feels at home with the tough test presented by the USGA, citing mental fortitude as a key strength. “Bar the wins yes, the US Open is the one that suits me the most because it usually has a very strong element of mental fortitude and being able to deal with the good and the bad breaks,” he told Irish Golfer. “I like the style of US Open golf courses in general, the heavy rough doesn't scare me whatsoever. They are the ones that I go into where I am quite comfortable with the test.”
