Carlota Ciganda starts strong at Open, defends slow play

Carlota Ciganda’s pace of play is sure to come under scrutiny after a strong opening round Thursday at the AIG Women’s Open.

Ciganda is making her first start since she was disqualified two weeks ago at the Evian Championship, where she declined to accept a two-shot penalty for slow play. She signed for a 72 instead of a 74 and then departed the scoring area, leading to her immediate disqualification. Afterward, she posted on Instagram that the rules officials “don’t understand what professional golf is about” and claimed that they single her out more than other players.

Ciganda opened with a 2-under 70 at Walton Heath in the first round of the final women’s major of the year. Predictably,…