LPGA Tightens Game Pace Regulations, Two Golfers Sanctioned in Shanghai

LPGA Tour has demonstrated its firm commitment to enforcing proper pace of play, after two golfers received two-stroke penalties for slow play during the third round of the 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Carlota Ciganda and Yealimi Noh were the two players sanctioned at the tournament hosted at Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China.

This penalty attracted significant attention as it directly impacted both players' scores and positions on the official leaderboard. Ciganda, the Spanish Golfer who remained in contention at the top of the field, had her score adjusted after being found in violation of LPGA Tour official timing regulations.

Ciganda received the penalty while playing the 13th hole, a par 4. The 36-year-old golfer had initially carded a par for the hole, but after the sanction was applied this was revised to a double bogey.

Carlota Ciganda Loses Two Critical Strokes

This incident cost Ciganda two vital strokes in the tight tournament race. Despite the setback, she responded well under pressure by scoring consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes.

Ciganda ultimately finished the third round with a score of 71, one under par. She ended the day on a total of four under par, tied for 4th place alongside other competitors, five strokes behind the tournament leader at that time, Hye-Jin Choi.

Separately, Yealimi Noh also received a two-stroke penalty on the 15th hole. The United States golfer carded a 76 for the third round, dropping her significantly down the leaderboard Standings.

These incidents for both players highlight that pace of play violations can carry major consequences, especially when competition for the championship title is Running closely.

LPGA Tour Slow Play Rules

The LPGA Tour updated its official Pace of Play policy in 2025 to resolve issues with excessively long round durations. This regulation establishes graduated penalties for players who exceed the permitted time limit to execute a shot.

Under this policy, players running 1 to 5 seconds over limit receive a monetary fine. Violations of 6 to 15 seconds result in a one-stroke penalty, while delays of 16 seconds or longer carry an automatic two-stroke penalty.

During enforcement, officials will usually issue an advance warning to groups falling behind the required tournament pace. If no improvement is observed, official individual shot timing will commence. Under specified conditions, timing may also begin without prior warning.

These provisions are designed to maintain smooth tournament flow while improving spectator experience. Unnecessarily slow play extends full round durations and disrupts the competitive rhythm of the event.

This Is Not Ciganda's First Slow Play Sanction

The penalty in Shanghai is not the first time Ciganda has faced slow play disciplinary action. She previously made headlines at the 2023 Evian Championship after also receiving a two-stroke penalty.

At that earlier tournament, Ciganda was ultimately disqualified after she refused to sign her adjusted scorecard, following the official rejection of her appeal against the penalty. That incident became one of the most widely publicised slow play cases in professional golf.

This latest penalty has once again highlighted the critical importance of compliance with timing regulations on the golf course. While technical skill and strategic precision remain core success factors, players must also adhere to mandated pace of play requirements.

LPGA Reinforces Strict Rule Enforcement

The penalties against Ciganda and Noh send a clear signal that the LPGA Tour is moving towards far stricter implementation of pace of play rules. This policy also acts as an official response to longstanding complaints about excessive tournament round lengths.

For professional golfers, maintaining correct pace is not simply about hitting shots quickly. Players must still properly assess course conditions, calculate wind direction, select equipment, and plan strategy carefully -- all without exceeding the allocated time limits.

With stricter penalty enforcement, the LPGA aims to run more efficient tournaments without compromising competitive quality. The events at the 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai also serve as a reminder that every single second on the course can alter the final outcome of a tournament.