Penalties to Speed Up LPGA Tour Play

New policy to address 'frustration of players and fans alike' will start after Asian swing

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MIAMI - The LPGA announced a new pace of play policy on Feb 13 with lower time thresholds for stroke penalties that will begin in March.

The new policy will not commence until after the tour's upcoming Asian swing, which includes events next week in Thailand, the following week in Singapore and March 6-9 in China.

The first tournament with faster times for penalties will be the Ford Championship from March 27-30 in Chandler, Arizona.

"The LPGA conducted a thorough review of the current pace of play policy to evaluate and address an issue that has been a source of frustration for players and fans alike," LPGA player-president Vicki Goetze-Ackerman said.

"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."

The new penalty structure for plus times mandates a fine for the first five seconds, a one-stroke penalty for violations between six and 15 seconds and a two-stroke penalty for violations of 16 seconds or more.