Nelly Korda is once again at the center of the LPGA slow-play debate. Despite facing criticism for her past remarks, she continues to champion faster play after the LPGA Founders Cup’s brisk rounds. With new pace-of-play rules coming soon, the discussion is heating up. Will the LPGA’s crackdown change the game?
Nelly Korda and the LPGA’s Fast-Paced Start to 2025
The LPGA Tour kicked off 2025 with a strong emphasis on faster play, an issue that has long been a topic of contention in professional golf. At the LPGA Founders Cup, held at Bradenton Country Club, rounds moved swiftly, even though the tour’s new pace-of-play rules are not set to go into effect until late March.
Nelly Korda, one of the tour’s quickest players, was quick to praise the efficiency. “There was not one round that we sniffed 4:45,” she stated. “It was very nice.” The median time for threesomes in the first two rounds was an impressive 4 hours and 31 minutes on Thursday and 4 hours and 23 minutes on Friday. By Sunday’s final round, when players were grouped into twosomes, the median time had dropped to just 3 hours and 48 minutes.
LPGA veteran Stacy Lewis, who played a role in crafting the upcoming pace-of-play changes, echoed Korda’s sentiments. “I just think everybody knows that we need to play faster,” Lewis said. The changes, set to be implemented later this season, could drastically alter how slow players approach the game.
How the LPGA’s Slow-Play Problem Escalated
Slow play has been a hot topic in professional golf for years, but it reached a boiling point last November during The Annika. That tournament saw the LPGA miss its television window by a staggering 51 minutes due to excessive delays. Ironically, two of the fastest players in the game—Charley Hull and Nelly Korda—were in the final group that day, but they still found themselves victims of the tour’s sluggish pace.
Hull didn’t hold back in her criticism, stating that players should lose their tour cards for repeated slow-play violations. While such drastic measures were not enacted, the backlash from players and fans pressured the LPGA to act. As a result, a committee was formed during the offseason to address the issue.
The new rules, set to be enforced in late March, introduce harsher penalties for slow play. Instead of fines, which had little impact on behavior, the LPGA will now issue stroke penalties to offenders. Players who take between 6 to 15 seconds over the allotted time will receive a one-shot penalty, while those who exceed the limit by 16 seconds or more will be penalized with two strokes.
Reactions From Players and the Golf Community
While Nelly Korda has been vocal in her support of fast play, not everyone on tour is as quick on the course. Gaby Lopez, known for her methodical approach, acknowledged the need for the changes but emphasized that players must take their warnings more seriously.
“I can speak about myself because I am not the fastest player out there,” Lopez admitted. “I’m trying my best, and I do make an effort. I really work on timing myself out there on the golf course.”
Lopez also pointed out that many players lose time not during their swings but in the decision-making process. Angela Stanford, who retired from the tour last year, echoed this concern. “I think people are losing their time in their process that leads up to their routine,” she explained. “The process of selecting a club can take anywhere from two to six minutes for some of these girls.”
These concerns highlight a key challenge for the LPGA—while enforcing penalties may help, the real issue may lie in how players strategize and prepare for their shots. Simply walking faster, as some have suggested, might not be enough to eliminate slow play entirely.
What’s Next for the LPGA and the Pace-of-Play Debate?
As the LPGA season progresses, all eyes will be on how these new rules impact the game. Will stroke penalties be enough to deter slow play, or will the controversy continue? For now, Nelly Korda and other fast players will continue to advocate for a more efficient game, while slower players may need to adjust quickly to avoid costly penalties.
Regardless of which side fans and players take in this debate, one thing is clear—the LPGA is making a bold move to change the pace of play. Will this decision ultimately improve the tour, or will it create more tension? Only time will tell.
The LPGA’s crackdown on slow play is set to redefine the game, and players like Nelly Korda are leading the charge for a faster, more dynamic tour. Whether you’re a fan of the change or skeptical of its impact, one thing is certain—the debate isn’t going away anytime soon.
Stay tuned for more updates on how these new rules shape the 2025 season and beyond!
