Count Nelly Korda and Charley Hull among the early supporters of the LPGA Tour’s increased fines for slow play that will go into effect at the start of the 2027 season.
The updated pace-of-play policy delivered to players Tuesday night is punitive to first timers as well as those found to be repeat offenders.
As outlined in the policy, there will be no warnings for players found to be exceeding one to five seconds in allotted time.
It also lowers the threshold for holes timed and reduces the excessive shot time limit from 70 to 60 seconds.
Korda, the No. 1- ranked player in the world back from a two-month hiatus, said she was a big fan and added the LPGA was “moving in the right direction.”
“Anything to get the game a little faster for us players — for fans, for everyone — I think they’re doing a really good job,” she told reporters ahead of The Annika. “At the end of the day, no one wants to be out here for five-plus hours. No player wants to. Nobody wants to watch it.”
According to a Golfweek report, players who were one to five seconds over time allotment this year received two warnings and then a $5,000 fine on their third infraction.
Without warnings in 2027, it will be a fine on the first offense. A breakdown of those penalties, according to the report, looks like:
- First occurrence: $2,000
- Second occurrence: $4,000
- Third occurrence, $8,000
The new rules say players who are between six and 15 seconds over receive a one-stroke penalty and a $2,000 fine. Those who are late 16 seconds or greater in 2027 will receive a two-stroke penalty and a fine based on how many previous infractions they’ve had during the season.
Regarding slow play on tour, Hull said that any penalty viewed as “too harsh” is a good thing.
“I’m happy about that,” Hull said when asked about the increased fines for 2027. “Hopefully we can play in four hours now. It literally took me an hour and 40 to play in the pro-am today. Like that’s great. I wish we done that on tour.”
Repeat offenders are facing more than just $5,000 with escalating penalties like they did in 2026.
Under the new rules, players who have been clocked an aggregate of 35 holes over the course of a season will receive a $35,000 fine. And from there, it still goes up:
- 36-40 holes, +$1,000 per hole
- 41-45 holes, +$2,000 per hole
- 46-50 holes, +3,000 per hole
Hull, who sits No. 8 in the world rankings and 29th on the CME Globe points list entering the penultimate event of the LPGA season, said when she’s playing against others who are going slow she doesn’t make comments and let’s her play do the talking.
“If I don’t say nothing when I’m hitting the golf ball there is a hint anyway,” she said at her press conference Wednesday.
