Slow play in Shanghai: LPGA hands out multiple two-stroke penalties

The third round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai at Sheshan Golf Club saw significant disciplinary action as the LPGA cracked down on slow play. Sky Sports commentator Richard Kaufman reported that Carlota Ciganda was assessed a two-stroke penalty upon finishing the par-4 13th hole. The penalty converted her par into a double bogey, causing a slide down the leaderboard. However, Ciganda responded resiliently with back-to-back birdies, finishing the day at 1-under 71 and sitting in a tie for fourth place heading into the final round. Yealimi Noh was also penalized for slow play during the Saturday session. The LPGA’s pace-of-play policy, updated in 2025, typically starts with warnings for groups out of position, followed by timing if improvements are not made. Once on the clock, players generally have 40 seconds to execute a shot, though they can bank time. Penalty structure dictates a warning for the first violation, a one-stroke penalty for the next, and a two-stroke penalty for subsequent breaches. While these penalties for both veteran players were severe, many on tour view the enforcement as a necessary step to address long-standing frustrations regarding round duration.