The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is rolling out a stringent policy aimed at managing the pace of play, set to come into effect this spring. The new policy brings down the timing threshold for stroke penalties among other significant changes. This updated policy will be enforced across both the LPGA and the Epson Tour.
Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, the LPGA player president, stated, “The LPGA conducted a comprehensive review of the existing pace of play policy to address an issue that has been a cause of frustration for players and fans. This new policy, led by players and developed through an established Pace of Play Committee, has been crafted to serve the best interest of our brand, fans, and the overall experience of watching the LPGA. Based on data-driven insights and direct player feedback, this policy now acts as a more robust deterrent, ensuring that players take warnings seriously before facing penalties.”
The primary goal behind these updates is to enhance the pace of play on the Tour, marking a significant stride towards creating a more efficient and enjoyable competitive setting that benefits both the Members and fans. The policy will kick in on March 27 for the LPGA Tour at the Ford Championship in Chandler, Arizona, and on April 25 for the Epson Tour at the IOA Championship in Beaumont, California.
Under the revised policy, players exceeding the allotted time for hitting a shot will face penalties as follows:
– 1-5 seconds over time: fine
– 6-15 seconds over time: one-stroke penalty
– 16 seconds or more over time: two-stroke penalty
Moreover, the LPGA will continue to grant an additional 10 seconds to players teeing off first on par 3 holes and “reachable” par 4s. However, the additional time allowance for those playing first on par 4 and par 5 holes has been removed.
The issue of slow play escalated notably towards the close of the 2024 season, reaching a peak during the third round at The Annika in November when two of the faster players on tour, Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, took five hours and 38 minutes to complete the round due to congestion ahead of them.
Hull, who led after 54 holes, was overtaken by Korda on the final day, with Korda sinking her final putt as darkness descended after another extended round. Hull expressed her frustration, labeling the situation as “ridiculous,” empathizing with the fans enduring prolonged rounds and proposing a stringent solution to combat the issue.
Korda, the world’s top-ranked player, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for consequences to deter slow play and urging officials to monitor pace right from the start of each round.
A dedicated committee was formed to delve into the slow play issue over the offseason. Notably, at the recent Founders Cup in Bradenton, Florida, no player exceeded the target time
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