Carlota Ciganda is no stranger to slow-play controversies. Slow play has always been a problem in the golf world and we all know how the fans feel about it. Last year, Ciganda was disqualified from the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship because she would not accept a slow-play penalty.

During the event, Ciganda signed for a 1-over 72, without the two-shot penalty. Thus, she signed an incorrect scorecard and was DQ’d. The group of Ciganda, Anna Nordqvist, and Celine Herbin began their second round on the 10th hole at Evian Resort Club. At the seventh, their 16th, they were told that they were out of position. One hole later, they were put on the clock. An official deemed that Ciganda took too long on the ninth hole, her last of the day, and she was docked two shots.

Ciganda appealed the penalty, but it was upheld. She then exited the scoring area, after signing her incorrect card, and was subsequently disqualified. Back then, the LPGA said in a statement, “Rule 3.3b(3) states that if a returned score is lower than the actual score, the player is disqualified from the competition. The exception to this Rule does not apply because Ciganda was aware of the penalty strokes received and upheld before signing her scorecard and leaving the recording area.” Now, the golfer is back under the scanner again at the ongoing The Annika driven by Gainbridge at the Pelican Golf Club.

According to a post by Monday Q Info, Carlota Ciganda, reportedly one of the slowest players in the LPGA, was warned multiple times and subsequently fined $4,000 for slow play. “Why pro golf needs to give penalties for slow play: According to a source Carlota Ciganda, one of the slowest players on the LPGA was warned multiple times today, and then fined after the round for slow play”, read the post.

Despite this, Ciganda’s current ranking of 63rd in points suggests she’s willing to risk the fine to potentially secure a spot in the top 60 and gain entry to next week’s lucrative, no-cut $11 million event. “She is currently 63rd in points. The top 60 make next week’s event, but because she knows she won’t get penalized she doesn’t change her routine”.

The current penalty system seems inadequate, as the fine is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the potential payout. If stricter penalties were enforced, players like Ciganda would likely adjust their pace to avoid losing strokes or facing more severe consequences. “If they penalized her, I promised she would speed up”, continued the post. Although LPGA has not yet confirmed anything about the alleged fine, social media is outraged about the slow pace of the event.

GolfWeek senior writer took to her X venting out her frustration. Posting a snap of the standing, she wrote, “Terrific board. TV window was supposed to end at 5 PM and coverage extended to 5:50. Brutally slow out there. Final group began their round at 12:13.” Notably, back in 2023, Ciganda had defended her slow play after disqualification from the Evian Championship.

“Very poor performance from the LPGA rules official, they don’t understand what professional golf is about, they only look at their stopwatch like if 20 seconds is going to make a difference,” Ciganda later wrote in an Instagram post. “I had family and friends watching and they all said it was impossible I took that long to hit that putt!” After two weeks, she again defended herself at the AIG Women’s Open.

“At the end of the day, I’m here to play golf and I’m trying to do my best. I think I am a nice person and I respect everyone when I play, so I just hope they can do the same with me. Some players, they play quicker, and some players, they are slower. Of course I can play quicker, but a lot of them, they can be quicker too. I don’t want to put too much focus [on it]. I just play golf and I love what I do, and that’s it,” she had said. However, world No. 1 Nelly Korda countered that strict enforcement of the rules was essential.

Emphasizing that slow play affected not only players but also the viewing experience for fans, who were forced to watch tournaments drag on for 5.5 to 6 hours. Korda’s stance underscored the need for consistent application of the rules to maintain a fluid pace and ensure an enjoyable game for all.

“I really like Carlota. 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,” Korda had said. But seems like the back clouds are not completely off Ciganda’s head. As the ongoing event struggled with pace, Carlota was called out by the fans.

Netizens bash Carlota Ciganda on the latest pace of play controversy

Golf fans are always a step ahead in speaking their mind and that too pretty loudly. So, when the controversy of the pace of play was resurfacing again, they were not letting go of this opportunity to bash the golfers. “@carlotagolf is a disgrace to the game”, said one fan while the other said, “She is painfully slow”.

The same case of slow play was seen at this year’s Solheim Cup, where Carlota Ciganda’s notorious pace of play came under scrutiny once again. A frustrated golf fan criticized Solheim Cup officials for failing to address Ciganda’s slow play, pointing out that the tournament’s pace of play policy wasn’t enforced despite the Rules of Golf stipulating play without undue delay (Rules 6-7) and a Pace of Play Policy setting maximum allowable times per hole and round.

As always there were some contrasting opinions as well in the comment section. “Make the fine $400k. For LPGA players, that is an entire season of earnings. That’ll speed her up. Make it $4Mil for PGA tour players. Make it hurt”, 

Yet another fan said, “Money fines are useless.” See now, the thing here is that each player of LPGA has to pay  $5000 for the second occurrence of slow play in the same game, as the first one is free per, page 69 of the PoP policy. “At that level fines aren’t a deterrent in the least. Like officials in other sports, we can’t be afraid to use the tools at our disposal. If we don’t then the pace of play issue trickles down to the lower levels of competitive golf”, said another fan.

This fan was so fed up with the problem that they couldn’t hold it in any longer and said, “The penalty should be a 6-month tournament suspension for slow play. I’m tired of professional golfers making a mockery out of it.” Notably, Carlota’s name has historically been prominent when it came to slow play.

At the 2021 Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play, Ciganda birdied the final hole of her match against Sarah Schmelzel to seemingly win. But officials told Ciganda after the match that she had been assessed a slow-play penalty on the 18th, turning that into a loss of hole and a victory for Schmelzel. What do you think? Should the players face any harsh punishment for the crime of slow play? Let us know in the comment section below!