The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has announced a new policy aimed at expediting play on the women's professional tour. This policy, designed to enhance the viewing experience for fans, will be implemented at the Ford Championship on March 27. Following this, the Epson Tour will see the policy enforced starting April 25 at the IOA Championship. This move marks a significant shift in the association's efforts to modernize the sport and improve its appeal.
The newly introduced policy eliminates the additional 10-second allowance previously granted to golfers hitting first on par 4s and 5s, with exceptions made only for reachable par 4s. However, golfers will still receive an extra 10 seconds when hitting first on par 3s, approach shots, and putts. The LPGA's decision stems from data indicating that the average final round on Sunday lasts 3 hours and 48 minutes, with earlier rounds taking significantly longer.
The revamped penalty structure introduces fines for players who exceed their allotted time by 1 to 5 seconds. Golfers exceeding the time limit by 6 to 15 seconds will face a one-stroke penalty, while a two-stroke penalty applies for those over by 16 seconds or more. Notably, fines will double each year for repeat offenders. This new system contrasts the previous approach where players were fined for being 1 to 10 seconds over and faced a two-stroke penalty for exceeding the time limit by more than 11 seconds.
Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, an influential figure in developing this policy, emphasized its collaborative nature and strategic intent.
"This new policy, which was player-led and developed through an established Pace of Play Committee, was created in what we believe is in the best interest of our brand, fans and the overall LPGA watching experience," – Vicki Goetze-Ackerman
She further highlighted the importance of data-driven decisions and player involvement.
"Based on a data-backed approach and direct player input, this policy now acts as a stronger deterrent, ensuring players take warnings seriously before penalties become necessary." – Vicki Goetze-Ackerman
Players were briefed on these changes last week during a meeting at the Founders Cup in Bradenton, Florida. At this event, the median time for threesomes in Rounds 1 and 2 was recorded at 4 hours, 31 minutes, and 4 hours, 23 minutes, respectively. The LPGA aims to reduce these times significantly to maintain golf as an engaging form of entertainment.
Nelly Korda, a prominent player on the tour, expressed her support for the initiative by stating:
"If we're taking really long out there, I mean, that's not entertaining." – Nelly Korda
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