Slow play on the LPGA Tour has been a longstanding issue, so much so that Charley Hull and Nelly Korda took matters into their own hands at the 2024 Annika.
After the third round of The Annika at Pelican Golf Club, Korda was critical after being forced to finish her 18 in near darkness. Hull, who was playing alongside the world number one, pitched a ruthless idea to combat slow play during her post-round press conference.
“It was crazy. I’m quite ruthless, but I said, listen, if you get three bad timings, every time it’s a three-shot penalty; if you have three of them, you lose your Tour card instantly. I’m sure that would hurry a lot of people up, and they won’t want to lose their Tour card,” she said.
Thankfully, Hull and Korda’s LPGA Tour colleagues have heard the message.
LPGA Tour average round time
Last weekend’s Founders Cup at Bradenton Country Club—won by Korda in 2024—had an average round time of 3 hours 42 minutes, which is well in line with the pace of play fans want to see.
American Yealimi Noh won the event after carding a three-under-par 68 during the final round.
Korda, meanwhile, finished in a tie for seventh at 12 under. The 26-year-old failed to mount a charge after posting 71 on the final day.
The LPGA Tour average round time has been released after the LIV Golf League made a similar move.
Slow play on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf
After the first round of the LIV Golf Riyadh event, the PIF-backed venture revealed the pace of play on its X account.
The shotgun start was over in 4 hours and 24 minutes, which is considerably better than what’s been seen on the PGA Tour in 2025. LIV actively encourages players to pick up the pace and has handed out penalties; Englishman Richard Bland has two already.
Unfortunately, the PGA Tour is still lagging behind when it comes to slow play. During The Amex in La Quinta, Sepp Straka’s final group took three-and-a-half hours to complete 11 holes. Meanwhile, at the Farmers Insurance Open, nine holes took three hours to complete.
The PGA Tour has confirmed that new rules will be implemented. Posting average round times and naming and shaming the slowest players are both being considered.
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