LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler apologized Tuesday for how the season-opening Tournament of Champions was cut short over the weekend in Orlando.
Amid frigid temperatures at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, the LPGA allowed the event’s pro-am to continue on Sunday. The fourth and final round of the pro tournament was delayed, and eight players ultimately teed it up before the round was canceled.
The event was shortened to 54 holes, and Nelly Korda, who led after three rounds, was declared the winner.
In addition to confusion over play on Sunday, Kessler also heard questions about why the fourth round wasn’t postponed until the following day. The next tour event, the Honda LPGA Thailand, doesn’t begin until Feb. 19.
Kessler addressed a memo to the player, writing in part, “I made the decision to limit the event to 54 holes, worried that our athletes might be injured given the way record overnight low temperatures hardened the course. While the decision was a tough one and ran counter to prior statements we shared, I made a judgement call. With the benefit of hindsight, there were clearly other ways we should have managed the situation.
“I recognize this decision, and others we made in real time, were confusing and disappointing to our fans. And our communication around the decision wasn’t clear or timely enough. Your frustration is valid — I own that, and I’m sorry.”
He added plans for similar scenarios in future tournaments:
“Establishing clearer principles for play decisions in challenging situations, including strengthening weekly contingency planning.
“Communicating faster, more clearly, and with better real-time information.”
Runner-up Amy Yang of South Korea, who finished three strokes back of Korda, said on Sunday, “I wish I played final round, you know, give myself a little chance. But it was playing very cold out there. I got here early warming up for 10:00 a.m. resume, and the greens weren’t playable … so, yeah, I could understand that we couldn’t compete for the fourth round.”
