‘The Rules Need To Be Enforced’ - Nelly Korda Reaffirms Stance On Slow Play Ahead Of Evian Championship
The World No.1 once again spoke out about the need for slow play rules to be enforced ahead of the fourth Major of the year
Nelly Korda has continued her crusade against slow play on the LPGA Tour, saying rules need to be enforced for the sake of the game.
The world No.1, who returns at the Evian Championship this week after recovering from a dog bite, has been an outspoken critic of slow play in the sport.
The issue sparked controversy at last year’s Evian after Carlota Ciganda was assessed a two-stroke penalty while putting on her final hole of the second round.
Ciganda, who appealed the penalty which was denied by LPGA rules officials, refused to add the penalty strokes to her scorecard and was disqualified as a result.
Speaking ahead of this year's Major at the Evian Resort Golf Club, where slow play has been a consistent problem, Korda reaffirmed her stance on the issue.
“I just think the faster people play is better for the game,” Korda said. “The rules need to be enforced and we have seen that. I think the LPGA Tour is doing a better job. I still think there is some room for improvement, and it's going to be better for the game of golf if there aren't three groups on one hole.
“I know there is tough golf courses and conditions too that you need to take into account. But at the end of the day, the more we improve the pace of play the more people are going to be interested in watching, coming out and not just watching on TV.”
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Asked if she would get bored watching long rounds on the course, Korda replied: “Yeah. Definitely towards the six hour round, yeah. I would need a chair for sure.”
It echoes her comments following last year’s controversy, where she also endorsed the enforcement of slow play rules.
“I really like Carlota,” Korda said at the time. “She’s a great person. I enjoy playing with her. I am a fast player, but I would say at the end of the day the rules of golf are the rules of golf, and it’s good that it’s being enforced.
“If I was a spectator and I was out here for five-and-a-half hours to six hours, you know, it’s tough to watch. You want to watch a sport that’s continuously moving and not continuously stalling. I would say I think it’s really important for the rules officials to enforce the rules of golf.”
Korda also expressed her frustrations about the issue following her victory at this year’s US Women’s Open, with her final round taking over six hours to complete.
“Honestly, I despise slow play,” she told No Laying Up after her win. “It drives me up a freaking wall. I just can’t stand it … But I kind of knew it was going to be a slow day, so I tried to not get ready for my tee shots or my approach shots or my putting until it was my time to go. So I made sure I was taking my time as well. Because if you’re ready then you’re [going to end up] overthinking it.”
Following a sensational start to the season, which saw her win six times in eight starts, Korda has missed three straight cuts coming into the fourth Major of the year.
She said she is thankful for her team after what has been a “roller coaster” season, and hopes to bounce back this week.
“I think I've gone through every emotion possible, and it's just July, on the golf course. You know, I love this game. I love the bad, I love the good. The bad makes you appreciate the good and that's just how it is. It's sports. If you care so deeply about it you're just going to go through the wave of the roller coaster.
“I have a great team, amazing family that keep me grounded and keep my perspective positive. They all lift me up even when I'm down and they make sure that we all stay very, very grounded and very, very humble, because sometimes you can get a little too ahead of yourself.
“But the game humbles you enough itself, which I learned a great deal recently. That's what I love about [it]. Even if I'm not playing well I'm going to go out and give it a 100% and go back and work harder.”
Joel Kulasingham is freelance writer for Golf Monthly. He has worked as a sports reporter and editor in New Zealand for more than five years, covering a wide range of sports including golf, rugby and football. He moved to London in 2023 and writes for several publications in the UK and abroad. He is a life-long sports nut and has been obsessed with golf since first swinging a club at the age of 13. These days he spends most of his time watching, reading and writing about sports, and playing mediocre golf at courses around London.
-
Jeong Weon Ko Facts: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Frenchman
Get to know the DP World Tour player, Jeong Weon Ko, a little bit better with these 10 facts
By Matt Cradock Published
-
How The 2024 Tour Championship Leaderboard Would Look Without The Staggered Start
Going into the weekend, it's Scottie Scheffler who leads the Tour Championship but, without the staggered start, would it look any different?
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Dunning Golf Reveals Team USA's Solheim Cup Uniforms
Dunning Golf has brought patriotism to life through the uniforms of the US Solheim Cup team
By Alison Root Published
-
9 Notable Players To Miss The Solheim Cup
Some of the world’s best-known players will compete on the US and European teams at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club match, but several other notable names have missed out
By Mike Hall Published
-
Curtis Cup Teams And Players: GB&I vs USA Line-Ups For Sunningdale 2024
The biennial match featuring top Great Britain & Ireland and US women's amateur players takes place at Sunningdale Golf Club in England - here are the teams
By Mike Hall Published
-
Solheim Cup 2024 Team USA Full Line-Up, Key Players, And How They Qualified
Team USA's 12-player roster has been confirmed ahead of the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Lexi Thompson Named One Of Three US Solheim Cup Wildcards
The 29-year-old will play in the match for the seventh time at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in September
By Mike Hall Published
-
Solheim Cup 2024 Team Europe Full Line-Up, Key Players, And How They Qualified
Team Europe's 12-player squad has been confirmed ahead of the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Suzann Pettersen Announces Team Europe Solheim Cup Wildcards
The Team Europe captain has revealed the four players who will join eight automatic qualifiers at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club match
By Mike Hall Published
-
Automatic Qualifiers Confirmed For US And European Solheim Cup Teams
Nine US players have guaranteed their qualification for the match, with eight Europeans assured of their places
By Mike Hall Published