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.