Rory calls slow play on PGA Tour an 'epidemic'

Despite sharing a three-shot lead heading into the weekend at The Players Championship, Rory McIlroy still took time after his round to criticize the slow play on the PGA Tour.

"(It's) because they don't do anything about it," Rory said as to why the pace is so slow, according to Golf Channel's Will Gray. "It's become somewhat of an epidemic on Tour."

Round 1 of The Players was suspended due to darkness, with only a single golfer left on the course. Rory called it "unacceptable" that they weren't able to fit the entire round in.

McIlroy isn't the first to call out officials for doing nothing about the pace of play. Brooks Koepka said no one "has the balls" to call a penalty on players who take too long.

Tiger Woods' group took 51 minutes to complete the opening two holes and was given a slow play warning during Round 2, according to Golf.com's Dylan Dethier. Tommy Fleetwood and Co. were also given a warning and officials began timing their shots, the broadcast mentioned.

Rule 5.6 of the Pace of Play Policy states a player should take no longer than 40 seconds to make a stroke.