‘Don’t Think That is Fair’: Weeks After Disappointing Exit, LPGA Icon Lashes Back With a Stern Response

The golf circuits are not without their controversies. Whether it is a battle between LIV Golfers and the PGA Tour or the underlying tensions of the massive $3 billion merger, there is just a lot going on in the world of the royal sport. And surprisingly, this is not just on the men’s side of golf either!

These days, the LPGA and LET circuits are also rapidly rising in fame (more than they already were). And the controversy of it all has crept its way into women’s golf as well. From debates on par-5s to distinguishing players for their advantage, everything is on the table. Now, another debate may be brewing at the final major championship of women’s golf.

Spanish LPGA pro calls out the Tour for unfair treatment

Much like the PGAT and DP World Tour, the LPGA and LET have a fiery Spaniard in their mix who, sadly, has been labeled slow over time. Carlota Ciganda has won 7 titles on the LET circuit and twice in 2016 on the LPGA. However, she is still categorized as a slow player. And what’s even more surprising is that she herself admits it.

The problem first came to light when she refused to comply with penalty shots at the Evian Championship because she felt singled out. “There are other slow players who don’t get timed or penalized as much as I do. I don’t think that is fair,” she said. She also pointed out that there is scope for improvement, but they are professionals who play golf for a living. Not giving them time to suss out the shots for maximum advantage was something Ciganda could not comprehend.

“I would want them to [apply the rules] every time,” she stated in light of some players not being penalized for taking time with their shots. In her words, “It is all subjective,” because the rule of time starting when it is their turn to take a shot is a little ambiguous. She doesn’t entirely agree with the premise and claimed that the regulation needs to take into account that, as professionals, the players need to read their shots and then play, which she sometimes doesn’t get to do.

She also stated that she didn’t wish for a lot of attention and was grateful to be able to play the sport she loves. However, the nagging feeling of being singled out was quite disheartening for the Spanish pro golfer. Her massive revelation comes just days after she was engulfed by a huge penalty controversy at the women’s penultimate major. A controversy that eventually saw her exit stage left!

Also Read: Spanish Golfer Disqualified from the Championship after Refusing to Add a Two-shot Slow Play Penalty to Her Scorecard

Why did Ciganda’s penalty at the Amundi Evian Championship lead to her disqualification?

At the Evian Resort Golf Club, at the 9th hole, group 14 experienced some delay. Carlota Ciganda was fined a two-shot penalty according to the ‘Pace of Play’ policy of the association. It was up for appeal, but her request was denied. Nevertheless, she refused to add the penalty shots to her scorecard.

According to rule 3.3(b), the Spaniard violated the terms by submitting a signed score card where the score was lower than the actual score. This was in accordance with her refusing the penalty that was enforced upon her. Therefore, she was disqualified from the event.

Do you think Ciganda is being singled out? Do you agree with her premise and her decision to accept disqualification over penalty shots? Share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments below.

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