No aimpoint express or straddling the line to the hole, just Stanford’s Ethan Gago taking really long to take a putt that got the internet talking.
NCAA golfer’s painfully long 80-second pre-putt routine is going viral - It’s tough to watch but fans can’t look away
It was an important putt and the young golfer was obviously nervous, but 80 seconds of reading the line, checking the green guide, lining up the putt and then backing off before finally making his putting stroke, didn’t help calm those nerves. He missed the putt. By a lot. Not even close. We’ve seen it on tour, guys like Keegan Bradely who straddle their 6-foot putts and use the aimpoint method, but they are timed, can be penalized and are playing for a lot of money.
Watch the whole thing. Don’t turn away.
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) June 2, 2026
Listen. It’s a big putt. For big stakes. I get it.
But also it’s 8 feet. You have a greens book.
If you are gonna take 90 seconds, you better at least get it remotely close.
pic.twitter.com/ZCNxYXpOLr
Australian pro golfer Greg Chalmers called it “nauseating” and thinks nothing will change until fans stop watching.
Nothing will change until people stop watching. As much as we all complain about slow play typically the tv cut away to a different shot and we all move on. Nothing will change. Nauseating and frankly weak
— Greg Chalmers (@GregChalmersPGA) June 2, 2026
Gao’s playing partners were frustrated and visibly annoyed as they shifted around, look away, look back. It wasn’t a pretty witness on X and even less so for the guys playing with him.
The other two looking out to sea and anywhere but at the putt - in case the indecision is contagious!
— 1golfmum (@1golfmum) June 2, 2026
Most of the comments on X ask for a rule change and strict time limits for pre-swing routines and putt analysis on the green. But, like everything, control and rules enforcement requires officials with every group and for the most part, that’s just not feasible.
So brutal to watch. Shot clock the putts at least? I know the stakes are high but it is right there up front in how to play the game. Play without delay. How long did the second putt take?
— Brian Clark (@AlAylett8782022) June 2, 2026
The lesson to be learned here is that taking a lot of time to read greens or judge shot distances doesn’t necessarily help and as Greg Chalmers says, we’ll probably just have to continue to deal with these long pre-putt routines until the NCAA, the PGA or the R&A get tough on slow play.
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