LPGA Announces Bizarre Decision After Stopping Lydia Ko & Co. from Playing at Season-Opener Due to Unsafe Conditions
The 2026 LPGA season kicked off with high expectations at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida—a limited-field event featuring recent winners, including stars like Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, and rising talents such as Lottie Woad. But extreme weather turned the tournament into a chaotic affair, culminating in a controversial call that left players, fans, and observers questioning the LPGA’s priorities.
The issues began Saturday during the third round. Frigid temperatures combined with dangerously high winds made conditions increasingly difficult. Nelly Korda delivered a masterful 8-under 64, navigating the cold and gusts with low, penetrating shots to seize the lead at 13 under. Meanwhile, Lydia Ko—playing in the final group and a Lake Nona resident who won the event in 2024—faltered with a bogey-double bogey stretch on the back nine but rallied with a bunker birdie to stay competitive at 8 under through 15 holes. Youmin Hwang was also at 8 under, and her missed putt on the 17th green, sent rolling off by the wind, prompted officials to suspend play at 4:19 p.m. ET. The 17th hole became unplayable, with balls oscillating on greens and unpredictable bounces rendering fair competition impossible.
Play was scheduled to resume Sunday at 10 a.m., with no frost overnight and hopes of salvaging a full 72-hole event. But sub-freezing overnight lows (dipping into the 20s) and a forecast of continued cold created what the LPGA described as a lack of an “optimal competitive environment.” The ground hardened, altering ball trajectories and release patterns, and officials repeatedly delayed the restart.
In a move that sparked widespread debate, the LPGA allowed celebrity participants—deemed an “exhibition”—to tee off as planned in the morning (though their rounds were shortened to nine holes). Professional players, however, remained sidelined. By 12:40 p.m. ET, after consultations with rules officials, tournament staff, partners, and the grounds team, the LPGA announced the tournament would be reduced to 54 holes. The eight players still needing to complete the third round (including Ko with three holes left, Amy Yang with two, and others) would finish those, and the leader at that point—Nelly Korda—would be declared the champion. No fourth round would be played, despite a warming trend expected Monday and Tuesday (highs reaching the 60s).
The decision drew sharp criticism. Lydia Ko expressed disappointment, saying she was “gutted” not to play Sunday. Players like Danielle Kang polled fans on social media about the call, highlighting frustration over the perceived inconsistency: celebrities played while pros waited, and the event was shortened despite the gap until the next tournament (18 days) and potential for a delayed finish. Critics argued the move felt premature, especially with Korda leading and the chance for a compelling conclusion featuring the game’s top talents. One LPGA official struggled to define “optimal competitive environment” beyond temperature impacts on the course, fueling perceptions of a bizarre, player-unfriendly choice.
Nelly Korda ultimately claimed her 16th LPGA title on the driving range, a win that snapped her 2025 winless streak but came under asterisk-like circumstances. For Ko and others chasing her, the abrupt end denied a fair shot at victory in tough but potentially playable conditions later in the week.
The episode underscores the challenges of weather in professional golf and raises questions about scheduling flexibility, player input, and consistency in decision-making. As the LPGA moves forward under new leadership, this “bizarre” start serves as a reminder that even the best-laid plans can be upended—and how those disruptions are handled can shape perceptions of the tour’s direction.
