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Breaking news: ESPN SportsCenter covers the LPGA for reasons other than Michelle Wie

Thursday October 1, 2009 | 19:03:55 461 words, 10165 views  

For what seems like the first time since Annika Sorenstam was dominating the tour, ESPN cares about the LPGA for reasons other than what Michelle Wie is up to.

This event comes thanks to 14-year-old Alexis Thompson’s opening round 65 at the the Navistar Classic (which is being replayed on Golf Channel tonight). She was the leader in the clubhouse for awhile before Janice Moodie carded a 64.

Wie, by the way, shot a 66, which was hardly even mentioned by the anchors. I’m speechless.

Getting the LPGA more respect starts with getting a hold of the fair weather sports fan, who help pad TV ratings. Just look at how many tune in to watch Tiger Woods events versus non-Tiger events on the PGA Tour. You need the mainstream “bump” and not just the niche fans to attract major sponsors.

The “chicken or egg” conundrum for the LPGA is that the fair weather sports fan follows ESPN for the majority of their coverage, and ESPN’s strategy in recent years seems to have slanted towards covering only major, larger-than-life phenoms or sideshows - and covering them to death. Their obsession with Brett Favre is an obvious example. A better one is that they give more airtime to Terrell Owens’ agent Drew Rosenhaus than they give the dominant, “shut-up-and-play” wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Sadly for Fitzgerald, he repeatedly makes the marketing mistake of handing the ball to the refs rather than river-dancing around the end zone with pom-poms after a touchdown. Coupled with the fact he doesn’t complain about his quarterback or star in VH-1 reality shows, well it’s really the media coverage kiss of death.

And follow the NHL through ESPN, you’d think the league only has two players that can stand up on skates: Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, but I digress…

It looks like in order for the LPGA to crack into the mainstream, they need a phenom of their own doing the incredible. The sports world is gushing over Thompson today, even though she has been on the radar since the 2007 U.S. Open in golf circles and the fact she’s contending in a tournament is really no surprise, considering she was on the leaderboard at the U.S. Open earlier this year before fading on the weekend.

It will likely take a Thompson or Wie emergence into dominance in order for the media outlets to really start following the LPGA again. If on Sunday, both Thompson and Wie are paired together and vying for their first LPGA win, well that’s going to really move the needle. Finally.

You can follow Brandon Tucker’s golf blog and more on Twitter: http://twitter.com/brandontucker or follow WorldGolf.com at Twitter.com/worldgolf . Have a golf travel question for Brandon? Email him by clicking here

Permalink 15 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: smudge [Visitor]
HAHA, I predict Wiester misses the cut.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-01 @ 19:26
Comment from: golfgirl [Visitor] · http://www.thegolfgirl.blogspot.com
What a rivalry that would be!

...and the really great thing is that there are other very appealing junior golfers who one might hope could also be regulars in the LPGA field in coming years. Carly Ray Goldstein and the awesome Jackson sisters, Erica and Myah among others.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-02 @ 03:21
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Brandon,
I guess it is all in the mindset of a LPGA professional. Where Ochoa is thinking to be in contention on Sunday, Wie is thinking on "just having fun." Evidently Michelle simply does not have the incentive to win on the LPGA. As she said in the past, golf is not one of her top priorities. Unless she changes her attitude, she will never win on the LPGA...I doubt if she even cares.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-02 @ 09:06
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Bubbles already has 2 bogeys through six holes and will probably end up shooting a 74 which will put her 6 strokes back of Ochoa and out of the tournament. It is literally impossible for Bubbles to have four consistent rounds of golf. She has not been able to do that for the past five years. But, don't forget, she is out on the golf course "to have fun."
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-02 @ 14:46
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Smudge,
Bubbles did not miss the cut, however, she did shoot a lackluster 70 under conditions where the course record 63 was tied and several 65s and 66s. She is only 2 stroke back of Ochoa and we shall see if she wants to win the tournament or only wants to have fun.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-02 @ 18:53
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
"It's a fun golf course. It's interesting," ... "It's really nothing like we played all year. You know, it's is fun golf course. You have to put it in the fairway and get on the greens and make the putt"

Michelle Wie

This is a Stanford student?! Duh!
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-02 @ 19:01
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Bubbles is 3 over par after 7 holes and it looks like she is going to implode with probably a 76 and shoot herself out of the tournament. She will probably use the sprained ankle excuse when she stepped in a hole when walking to have lunch. All of the top players are shooting 66 and Cristy Kerr shot a 64. It is obvious that the course conditions are allowing low scores and Bubbles once again is going to disappoint her fans. The press conference this afternoon will be all too familiar with..."well, I just didn't get the breaks today. Though I am 10 strokes back, there is the chance that I could shoot a 59 tomorrow and win the tournament."


PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-03 @ 15:24
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
Revision...Bubbles is only 8 strokes back. Ochoa will shoot another 66 and Bubbles will have to shoot a 57 to win.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-04 @ 10:07
Comment from: joe cool [Visitor]
Why was Bubbles the only player out of 144 that step in a hole and sprained her ankle while walking to lunch? It seems that trouble finds her and she does not even look for it. She has been averaging around 10 bogeys per tournament and if she pars in, she will maintain that statistic. Hopefully, she will finally come to realize that 10 bogeys in a tournament will not put a trophy in your hands.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-04 @ 15:25
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Smudge and Joe Cool need to get a grip. I'm wondering if they feel like idiots after Wie finishes the tournament tied for second place.

Take a wee break, fellas. Pun intended.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-05 @ 08:27
Comment from: smudge [Visitor]
Shanks, still no W. Were you one predicting not only that she would be basically lapping the lpga women but also making multiple cuts on the PGA tour and having a go at the Masters? She lost by 4, was never in the tournament after day 1. Same old Same old, whether it is a missed cut or a 2nd place finish, she can't win. I predict she never will. Which brings me to the point I keep making. So much focus on Wie in the press means the LPGA will never be successful. If your star player can't win, why watch.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-05 @ 13:04
Comment from: John D [Visitor]
The Winless Wie-Wee saga continues....

.. 0 for 57!!!!
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-05 @ 15:50
Comment from: joe cool [Visitor]
Shanks,
I must admit that Bubbles did rebound, however, it was the same old story of too little, too late. She has not been able to put together four solid rounds during 2009. She has been averaging around 10 bogeys a tournament and in the LPGA, that is not going to get you a trophy. She is ranked 144th in driving accuracy and I think that must improve along with making those three foot par putts before she will win a tournament. I am planning to see her play in Houston, Texas on November 19th. Hopefully, she will get the job done.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-05 @ 23:18
Comment from: St. Matthew [Visitor]
Considering the lies (Bad Ankle) She believes there is no way She can win in the near Future She is a train wreck that can never win with that screwed up head. It will never, ever let her win. Too bad such Physical talent is ruined by a mental block created in her own twisted mind.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-06 @ 04:18
Comment from: joe cool [Visitor]
It now seems that Bubble's priority list is:

1. Twitter Dee, twitter dum
2. Fashion designer
3. The next Rembrandt
4. Fashion model for Nike
5. Wannabe PGA Player of the Year
6. PHD from Stanford
7. LPGA Golf Professional

She states that she does not want to play golf after 30 years old...she has ten years to hold a trophy in her hot little hands.
PermalinkPermalink 2009-10-22 @ 22:14

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WorldGolf.com's Brandon Tucker offers his unique perspective on golf and travel destinations from Scotland and Ireland to Myrtle Beach. He also chimes in on news events on the PGA and LPGA Tours, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other happenings around the world of golf.

 

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