A slow-play penalty turned an otherwise routine hole into a costly moment for Carlota Ciganda during the third round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai. 

On Saturday, Sky Sports golf commentator Richard Kaufman reported that Ciganda was assessed a two-stroke penalty after finishing the par-4 13th hole at Sheshan Golf Club. The penalty transformed her par into a devastating double bogey, knocking her down the leaderboard.

But she didn’t let the penalty derail her round. Ciganda responded with back-to-back birdies on the next two holes and finished with a 1-under 71; she now sits T4 heading into Sunday’s final round.

Ciganda wasn’t the only player caught up in the crackdown, either. Yealimi Noh was also reportedly penalized for slow play on Saturday.

How the LPGA’s pace-of-play policy works

So, how does a player lose two strokes for slow play? It takes more than you might think.

Under the LPGA’s updated Pace of Play Policy, officials will usually start by warning a group that falls out of position. This gives players an opportunity to catch up on the next hole. If the group fails to make a sufficient improvement, officials can begin timing players. 

The policy — updated in 2025 — includes a few exceptions. For example, officials can skip the warning if a group is significantly out of position, and they can time groups without a warning during the final three holes. Officials can also time an individual player at any point during a round if they believe that player’s pace is contributing to the group falling behind.

Once a player is on the clock, they have a set amount of time to hit their shot — usually about 40 seconds — with additional time allowed in certain circumstances. The policy also lets players bank time, giving them flexibility in how they use their allotted seconds throughout the round.

How many strokes can a player lose?

According to the LPGA’s penalty structure, a first timing violation generally results in a warning, while a subsequent violation can result in a one-stroke penalty. Further violations can lead to additional penalty strokes, including a two-stroke penalty for a subsequent breach.

The exact sequence of events leading to Ciganda’s penalty has not been confirmed. However, this isn’t the first time she’s received a slow-play warning or penalty (you may remember her strange disqualification at the 2023 Evian Championship).

While the enforcement may strike some as harsh, it is likely a welcome change for many of the LPGA players who have grown frustrated with the tour’s pace-of-play problem. For those who have been calling for action, these penalties send a clear message that the tour is serious about keeping rounds moving.

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