The LPGA is beginning to crack down on slow play. This has been plaguing the tour for years.
It was first retrieved in a memo sent to players on Tuesday, Posted on X by Ryan French on Monday Q infoLPGA showed that players can receive a fine for more than 1-5 seconds and receive a two-stroke penalty if it takes more than 16 seconds to hit a shot. For those who take another 6-15 seconds, tournament officials will rate a one-stroke penalty.
This is how this is done.
Bravo @lpga Requiring players to be faster. Once they are penalized, they pick up the pace of play, assuming they will follow through. pic.twitter.com/vmjiuxxasx
– Monday Q Information (@acaseofthegolf1) February 5, 2025
According to Brently Romeen from Golf ChannelLPGA's current play policy pace states: If it takes more than 60 seconds to play a single shot, including Putts, players in groups outside of position may be penalized for unfair delays., players will be 10 seconds or more on a given hole The maximum allocated time of the total inked stroke is exceeded.”
Essentially, the overall policy remains the same. However, the penalty assessed will be much more severe, as Annika Sorenstam requested during last week's Champions of Champions Tournament in Orlando.
“It should hurt more. Strokes, two strokes, whatever it is,” Sorenstam told SB Nation.
“Maybe it's a kind of street pause, and obviously, if it continues, you might want to consider player eligibility. [Slow play is] Not good for the tour. ”
One player who was excited about this development is Nelly Corda, the world's No. 1 player. She plays quickly, just like Sorenstam did in her prime, without dilly-dally or stagnation.
“Finally. Yeah, I'm very excited about it,” Korda said Wednesday.
“I think that's one of the things I noticed on tour times. It used to be five to less than five hours, so now it's a five-and-a-half-hour round. Implementing stricter rules is what Suitable for golf games.”
Slow play is also plagued by the PGA Tour. Fans saw it in person at the opening of Farmers Insurance. Even Dottie Pepper from CBS Sports called it, saying it became a matter of “respect” or lack of it.
Korda also recognizes that, adding that slow plays don't affect LPGAs alone.
“It just has a positive impact on the game of golf,” Korda said.
“I feel that it's not just women's golf that's struggling with it. I think the entire game of golf is struggling with slow plays. This is a very big topic on all tours. For fans, I think it's going to be better. They'll be – instead of losing half of the fans on the back nine, I feel they're going to stick with it and see the ending of it.”
It's time for the PGA Tour to chase the LPGA and implement similar, stricter policies.
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
