Nelly Korda, the current world No. 1, has expressed her support for stricter enforcement of slow play penalties in major tournaments as the golfing community prepares for the AIG Women’s Open starting Thursday. Last month, Carlota Ciganda’s slow-play penalty and subsequent disqualification from the Evian Championship had created a massive uproar in the golfing world.
The AIG Women’s Open is expected to provide exciting action and possibly influence the ongoing discussion over the pace of play in the sport because the golfing world is watching it closely.
Nelly Korda’s commitment to fairness and enjoyment through rule adherence
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Korda emphasized the importance of following the Rules of Golf during her pre-tournament press conference at Walton Heath and lent her strong support to its constant application. The Ciganda incident at the Evian Championship brought slow play to light, which prompted Korda to address the subject.
The American golfer emphasized the significance of sustaining a proper tempo of play for the benefit of both players and spectators. Nelly Korda said: “If I was a spectator and I was out here for 5 1/2 hours to 6 hours, you know, it’s tough to watch. You want to watch a sport that’s continuously moving and not continuously stalling.”
Korda recognized the difficulties that slow play might affect a golfer’s rhythm. She discussed how she adjusted to various playing tempos and said that she and her caddie handled these situations well.
🦁🐢🧊Nelly comments on slow play ahead of @AIGWomensOpen .
— NELLYLEGION (@NellyLegion) August 9, 2023
In addition, Korda gave guidance to other golfers, advising them to be respectful of others around them and the game’s overall flow. Not for nothing is she a champion golfer! Her advocacy of playing by the book stands her apart from everyone else.
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Nelly Korda’s resilient comeback and anticipated showdowns
After her eagerly awaited return to the LPGA circuit, Korda struggled to reach her previous level of performance. Her accomplishments at the Amundi Evian Championship (where she finished in the top-10) and the Aramco Team Series (which she won) in recent weeks demonstrated how hard she worked to get back where she belonged. These performances were crucial to her ascent to the coveted No. 1 spot. This week, Korda’s primary objective is to regain her full strength.
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Korda will compete alongside Lydia Ko and Charley Hull in the early rounds of the AIG Women’s Open. Hull, in particular, wants to win the major championship and be the first Englishwoman to do so since 2018. Hull’s quick playing style and her superb putting abilities were highlighted in Korda’s ecstatic appreciation. What’s your take on Nelly Korda’s support for the stringent application of slow-play penalties? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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