Nelly Korda is the latest high-profile LPGA Tour player to address a “ridiculous” issue which has emerged within the game.
Upon the conclusion of The Annika, where Korda claimed her seventh win of 2024, Charley Hull shared her ‘ruthless’ idea to combat slow play on the LPGA Tour.
“It was crazy. I’m quite ruthless, but I said, listen, if you get three bad timings, every time it’s a tee shot penalty; if you have three of them, you lose your Tour card instantly. I’m sure that would hurry a lot of people u,p and they won’t want to lose their Tour card,” Hull said.
Korda also criticised the event after finishing the third day in darkness, as those in the proceeding groups took far too long to complete their rounds.
The LPGA Tour has been urged to address the problem, and the world number one has now shared her solution.
Nelly Korda addresses slow play on LPGA Tour
Speaking during her pre-tournament press conference at the CME Group Tour Championship, Korda expressed her strong opinion on the current pace of play in the women’s game.
“Yes, I personally think it’s a pretty big issue. It’s not good for fans who come out and watch us. Personally, I would be very, very annoyed watching for five hours. I just think it really drags the game down, and I think that it really needs to change,” Korda said.
“I did [hear Charley’s solution]. I think players need to be penalised, and rules officials need to watch from the first group. Once they get two minutes behind, one minute behind, it slows everything down. To be standing over a putt for two to three minutes, that’s ridiculous.”
She added: “When a group in front of me is on the green, and I am in the fairway, I am already getting ready, getting my numbers ready, and talking about the shot, so by the time it’s my time, I already have my game plan and hitting right after the person in front of me.
“People overanalyse one, and I think people need to be ready faster. People start their process too late and stand over it for too long. I think we need more people on the ground to monitor the pace of play; I don’t think we have enough people to monitor it.”
PGA Tour and LPGA Tour must drive change
Slow play is also a prominent issue on the PGA Tour, so the authorities need to drive change, and it must start with the professional scene.
As Korda mentions, those who like to take their time over shots must start doing the math en route to their ball, not when they arrive. This process should be taught right down into the amateur scene.
Too often, the process starts once a player arrives at the scene, slowing down the game. Once professionals begin setting an example, amateurs will undoubtedly follow suit.
It’s time to change the perception that golf is a four-hour game, and the likes of Hull and Korda speaking up can only be a good thing.
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