LPGA stands to benefit more from Olympic golf than PGA Tour
I’ve heard a lot of lobbying from Tim Finchem, the PGA Tour and Phil Mickelson in particular about including golf in the Olympic Games by 2016 when they will potentially come to golf-rich Chicago.
But I haven’t seen that same enthusiasm from the officials or players on the LPGA Tour. Maybe they’ve been in the back rooms lobbying and it’s just not making the papers, but they are the ones that stand to benefit most from inclusion into the games.
The PGA Tour is already a global force. If you have a tour card you’re practically a millionaire. Sponsors are already eating up events. Purses are extraordinary. They have Tiger Woods. The top two highest paid athletes in America are golfers and by far, Tiger and Phil.
The LPGA on the other hand still has plenty room to grow and needs every international stage possible to build their brand and players. Little girls everywhere are beginning to take notice of golf now, thanks to higher prize money and cute, sharp-dressed women on the course. But women’s golf still has plenty more upside. The Olympics could be a tremendous catalyst.
The Olympics will also add some credibility and showcase their skills even further. Fair or not, few women’s professional sports carry the same cache as men’s. Tennis maybe. But in the Olympics, some of the women’s sports are the most prestigious: gymnastics, figure skating, diving…Women’s golf would certainly showcase the top players in the world’s incredible skills.
The USA’s Michelle Wie could possibly even try and qualify, as her handlers will no doubt see all the potential marketing cash at stake (why else do you think Lebron James and Kobe Bryant were so eager to play in this year’s games? China’s market has the biggest potential in the world right now. They’re trying to sell gear there, make no mistake).
So it’s time for Carolyn Bivens, Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa and even Team Wie to start lobbying just as hard as the PGA Tour for Olympic Golf.
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10 comments
Hmmmm. Team Wie eh. Yesterday, they were focused on her finishing first or second this week and avoiding the plague known as Q school. Right now they should be worried about coming in first or second in her threesome. If the young amateur from Quebec plays well, she might not reach that goal.
Stacey Lewis. 3rd in the Canadian Womens Open gets you an LPGA card for next year--but not 3rd in the US Womens Open.
Top 5 in a Major should be enough to get you immediate non-exempt membership, with exempt membership for the next year. You give her the chance to play as an LPGA member the next week.
I agree that the LPGA needs to do a better job of promoting itself. I do think they are trying. You mention Stacey and I would think Blumenherst will be a top player and when Lexi gets there, all of that will help. Not that they don't have some good players and plenty to market right now.
I do think the PGA will always have it so much easier. Most males age 22 to say 52 will be huge fans of the PGA. That is just the way it is. They have the demographic and they have the money coming in. And of course Tiger turbo charged the whole thing. Males of that age have the cash. I just like following the women even though I am well aware of what is going on in PGA events and of course I follow the majors closely.
Anthony Kim is a really good addition on the tour- skill wise and personality wise................blueline24l
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, and you can't sell a third-rate product as a first-rate one.
It's pretty safe to say that men are generally far more into playing and watching sports than women. The Olympics however have a way of making both gender's sports captivating to watch, which is why the LPGA would benefit, being able to showcase their players on a stage far greater than anything they have now.
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