“Snail Plague” at the U.S. Women’s Open: Momentum Killer in the Making
06/02/2025 by Golf Post Editors
Pace of play stole the spotlight at the US Women’s Open, as slow rounds sparked frustration despite women’s golf’s surging momentum.
Despite record buzz at the U.S. Women’s Open, slow play frustrations resurfaced. (Photo: Getty)
At first glance, this year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills offered all the hallmarks of a breakthrough moment for women’s golf. “I think if women’s golf was a stock, you’d buy it because it’s what’s driving our game forward,” declared USGA CEO Mike Whan. “The first thing they would say about the future is the future of the game looks more female than it’s ever looked in 100 years. That’s an exciting time.”
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It’s a sentiment shared by many, and rightly so. The talent pool has never been deeper, the storylines more compelling, or the athleticism more evident. Yet amid all the deserved optimism, an all-too-familiar issue once again cast a long shadow: pace of play.
Despite years of dialogue and supposed reforms, slow play remains a thorn in the side of the women’s game. And at Erin Hills, it reached a boiling point. Several groups took well over three hours to complete just nine holes, grinding the tournament to an excruciating crawl and drawing criticism from fans, media, and players alike.
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This isn’t a new dilemma. The LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour have both faced mounting pressure to tackle the problem, especially in marquee events. But for all the promises of change, the pace at the U.S. Women’s Open suggested that the message hasn’t quite landed.
No one embodied the frustration more than Charley Hull. Paired with the ever-methodical Lexi Thompson, Hull’s irritation was plain to see—and she didn’t try to hide it.
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She was seen walking off greens before her group had finished, heading straight to the next tee box, even sitting down in the rough in silent protest. Her body language spoke volumes—and quickly went viral.
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Hull’s exasperation echoed the concerns of fellow star Nelly Korda, who has also been vocal about the need for stricter enforcement. And while tournament officials have introduced new policies in recent seasons, those guardrails were evidently missing in Wisconsin.
The stakes are high. Women’s golf is enjoying a long-overdue surge in popularity, and moments like Erin Hills should be showcasing the sport’s brilliance—not bogging it down with marathon rounds and player frustration. The USGA and its partners must act decisively. Because if women’s golf is indeed on the rise, it cannot afford to trip over the same stumbling block again and again.
Let the headlines be about the birdies, not the bottlenecks.
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