European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has hailed how plans to speed up the sport got off to a positive start during the recent Desert Swing, where round times were up to 19 minutes quicker. A new Pace of Play policy was introduced at the start of the year to identify slow players, with the aim to make the game more appealing to fans either at the course or watching on television.As well as the ability to still officially time players, referees now can issue a monitoring penalty for slow play, with world No 1 Jordan Spieth the first recipient during his opening round in Abu Dhabi. Pelleys pledge was to try and reduce round times by 15 minutes, with the new guidelines having an immediate affect at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, Qatar Masters and the Dubai Desert Classic.The measures saw average round times drop by five minutes during Abu Dhabi compared to the previous years event, while rounds in Qatar were more 10 minutes quicker than they were in similar windy conditions in 2012. Spieth took too long to line up his putt during the opening round in Abu Dhabi The biggest change came in the last group times, which were 19 minutes and 14 seconds quicker in Qatar compared to four years ago, meaning an earlier finish time for the tournament. It is terrific to see the policy has had an immediate effect, even though we are still in the early stages of its implementation, Pelley said. We said before our new measures were introduced in Abu Dhabi that we wanted to take the lead on pace of play.I am also pleased that our members have reacted positively to this change. We are continually striving to make our product even more appealing and entertaining for our fans and this is a good starting point. Chief referee John Paramor looking out for players playing too slowly There is no quick fix for slow play, but this new policy is aimed at empowering our referees to more effectively target the problem and I believe we will see even more inroads made over the coming weeks and months.A total of 95 groups were monitored during the three early-season events, with Spieth one of only five players to be handed a monitoring penalty.Daniel Brooks (Abu Dhabi, round two), Benjamin Hebert (Abu Dhabi, round four), Eddie Pepperell (Dubai, round one) and Gavin Green (Dubai, round two) complete the group, with those five now set to receive a fine for each monitoring penalty they receive during the rest of the season. Gary Christian believes stroke penalties and not fines are the only way to address the issue of slow play on the golf course The fines will increase for each following monitoring penalties, with players punished if they exceed the time allowed for a shot - 50 seconds if first to play and 40 seconds thereafter.It is important to note that our referees now have the ability to apply monitoring penalties if they see a player take an excessive amount of time over a shot, even if their group is in position on the course, so our players are now more aware than ever that slow play is unacceptable, Pelley added.Watch the European Tour throughout the season live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf Also See: Tour cracks down on slow play R&A: Slow play a top issue Spieth hit by slow play warning Golf live on Sky Sports 4 Cheap Lakers Jerseys .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Los Angeles Lakers Shirts . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Los Angeles Lakers Pro Shop . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Lakers Jerseys China . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. MONTPELLIER, France -- Italy full back Mattia De Sciglio believes that what the Azzurri lack in star quality, they more than make up for in their strength as a group.Italy arrived at the European Championship with an aging team that was much criticized by the media back home. But it advanced as the winner of Group E with a match to spare and beat two-time defending champion Spain 2-0 in the round of 16.Next up for Antonio Contes side is its old foe and reigning world champion Germany.Conte gives us determination, De Sciglio said Thursday. Since we dont have superstars like Spain has and like Germany has, we need to put everything we have, all our effort, determination.Its a team job. Not having individuals who can change the game, we have to help each other out and not let up for a single second.That strength as a group will be tested on Saturday when Italy will be without key midfielder Daniele de Rossi, who is a doubt with a thigh injury.Italy is already missing midfielder Antonio Candreva because of injury, while Claudio Marchisio, Marco Verratti and Riccardo Montolivo were ruled out before the start of the tournament.We are ready, we are aware of our values and qualities, De SSciglio said.dddddddddddd In midfield we have some absentees, but we have other players able to replace the teammates that cant make it. We are a group of 23, there are no good players and reserves, no starters.As well as a battle between arguably the two best teams at Euro 2016, it will also be a standoff between the two best defenses in the tournament.Germany has yet to concede a goal, while Italy has conceded just once, in its final group match against Ireland.Much of that is down to Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli, who play at the back for club as well as country -- along with Juventus goalkeeper and Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon.We have the three Juventus players who show every match their strength, their understanding, De Sciglio said. Playing every match together they know each other perfectly.Theyre also great personalities. On the pitch they guide us, give instructions to all their teammates so we can move the best way possible. The fact theyve always won in Italy in the last five years has given them a lot of strength. ' ' '