LPGA vet slapped with 2-stroke penalty while contending in China

Carlota Ciganda, notorious for being one of the more deliberate players on the LPGA Tour, was hit with a costly two-stroke penalty for slow play on Saturday in the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

As first reported by Sky Sports’ Richard Kaufman, Ciganda received her penalty on the par-4 13th hole while playing the third round at Sheshan International Golf Club. Per a pace of play policy announced by the tour in early 2025, being 1-5 seconds over time is a fine; 6-15 seconds is a one-stroke penalty; 16 seconds or more is two strokes.

Ciganda, 36, made a par on the 13th, but it was changed to a double bogey. She was in contention and managed to bounce back after the penalty with back-to-back birdies. The Spaniard shot one-under 71 and was tied for fourth, five shots back of leader Hye-Jin Choi.

Ciganda has been assessed numerous slow-play penalties throughout her career, including in the 2023 Evian Championship when she would not accept a two-stroke penalty and was DQ'd from the LPGA major.

Ciganda was not the only player in China to be docked for slow play. Kaufman reported that American Yealimi Noh received a penalty, but the details were was not reported. Noh made five bogeys and one double bogey in her round of 76.

In her rookie season of 2021, Noh was penalized $10,000 for slow play in the Kia Classic.