The LPGA is updating its pace-of-play policy and dishing out stricter punishments in 2027 after pace flatlined during the 2026 season.

Players were informed of the changes by the Pace of Play Committee during a Tuesday meeting at The Annika in Belleair, Florida, the LPGA’s penultimate event of the season.

The updated policy will include more fines.

Previously, players who took one to five seconds over their allotted time to hit a shot were given two warnings before a fine. Now the warnings are gone and players will be fined right away. Six to 15 seconds over allotment remains a one-stroke penalty but a fine will now be included, and 16 seconds or more remains a two-stroke penalty but will also come with a fine.

The LPGA tracked data since the new policy went into place in 2025 and came away with three main findings: that pace of play improved in 2025 but recently flatlined; warnings and penalties increased; and the number of holes timed increased by 12 percent.

Under the previous policy, there were three one-stroke penalties and two two-stroke penalties in 2025, and this year there’s been five one-stroke penalties and two two-stroke penalties. Recently, Carlota Ciganda and Yealimi Noh were each handed two-stroke penalties for slow play at the Buick LPGA Shanghai last month.

Nelly Korda and Charley Hull, two of the LPGA’s most popular (and fastest) players were asked about the policy at The Annika on Wednesday. Both were in favor of the changes.

“I’m a big fan,” Korda said. “Anything to get the game a little faster for us players, for fans, for everyone, I think they’re doing a really good job. I mean, at the end of the day, no one wants to be out here for five-plus hours. No player wants to. Nobody wants to watch it. I think we’re just moving in the right direction.”

Beyond the fines that will be introduced in 2027, two other changes were also announced: A player who reaches 35 timed holes will be fined (down from 40); and the time allowed for a shot has been decreased from 70 seconds to 60 seconds.

“Pace of play matters to our players, our fans and our partners, and we committed to reviewing our policy every year to make sure it’s working,” an LPGA spokesperson told GOLF. “After a close look at this season’s data and conversations with our players, we’re strengthening the policy for 2027 with tighter time limits and stronger, earlier consequences for players who exceed them. Going forward, we’ll keep measuring, keep listening to our players and keep adjusting as we work to further improve pace of play.”

After this week’s Annika, the LPGA season concludes next week with the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples.

“>