The LPGA Tour is set to introduce new regulations to eliminate slow play, with penalties applied if players exceed the allotted time by just six seconds.
On Friday morning, the LPGA Tour announced that its recently formulated pace-of-play regulations will take effect starting with the Ford Championship, which begins on March 28. The restrictions were first communicated to players via a memo on February 5. At the time, the LPGA Tour did not specify the exact implementation date, but after a thorough review, it confirmed that the new rules would enhance the tour’s reputation and provide clear benefits to fans.
Under the new rules, exceeding the allotted time for a shot by five seconds will result in a fine. A one-stroke penalty will be imposed if the delay extends beyond five seconds but remains within 15 seconds. A two-stroke penalty will apply if a player exceeds the limit by 16 seconds or more. The updated regulations place greater emphasis on penalties rather than fines. Under the current rules, only exceeding 31 seconds results in a two-stroke penalty, while delays of up to 30 seconds incur only a fine.
Since penalties that directly impact a player’s score are more feared than post-round fines, the LPGA has introduced a new one-stroke penalty threshold and lowered the criteria for a two-stroke penalty. In 2024, 31 players were cited for slow play, with 22 receiving fines and 9 incurring two-stroke penalties. However, 23 players would have received one-stroke penalties under the new regulations, while 8 would have been assessed two-stroke penalties.