During the 2008 Sybase Classic, Annika Sorenstam mentioned that she would be “stepping away” from competitive golf, careful not to use the “r” word. Carolyn Bivens, worried that fans might lose interest in the LPGA, also made it perfectly clear that Annika did not say the word “retirement” but confirmed that “She plans to end her competitive career".
One translation? Annika slipped into second place in the money rankings just below Ochoa and could not seem to climb back into contention. Not to take anything away from a golfer who had seventy-two career wins but Sorenstam was busy building outside interests too; golf courses, clothing and perfume lines. And, most importantly, her clock was ticking! Tiring of the daily grind, Annika realized that it was time to make room for a new generation. She would graciously fade away and reinvent herself.
Even so, the door was left open in case screaming kids and diapers became too mundane for the former champion.
Meanwhile, Lorena Ochoa was quietly picking up momentum from 2004 until 2006 where she did everything from carding her first LPGA hole-in-one to receiving ADT official money list honors. In 2007 Ochoa grabbed hold of the Rolex Rankings from Sorenstam and never looked back.
Unfortunately for the LPGA, Ochoa is more interested in winning tournaments than becoming a social media prodigy. The Tour, on the other hand, needs more sponsors and fans and is more interested in survival these days.
The players and companies involved in the LPGA are also trying to become better known outside of the realm of their own Tour hoping to entice viewers. Natalie Gulbis, for example was a regular on the Celebrity Apprentice and Anna Rawson has become the new “Go Daddy girl". Even the Golf Channel has decided to use Michelle Wie as the recognizable “face” of the LPGA, and she hasn’t even won an event!
Has women’s golf suffered due to the loss of the “Tiger Woods” of the LPGA or is it the fault of a sluggish economy? Has “feminization” slowed the process?
When the heroine of the decade “retired” it placed the LPGA at a huge disadvantage. Add the economic woes of the country to the mix with fans cutting out extraneous spending and the LPGA could be at risk to go the way of arena football.
Remember the malaise that covered the PGA Tour when Tiger Woods was making his recovery? Ticket sales dropped and Tim Finchem put out a plea to professional golfers to play in a few more events and shmooze more so that fans and sponsors got more bang for their buck.
The Sybase Classic is making it easier to get people in the door, so much so that they are offering free tickets to almost any one with a pulse. For example, cell phone users text LPGA to SYBASE and receive two free tickets. If you have a Lincoln/Mercury, just show your keys and get tickets at the gate and, if you have a Shoprite card, you too get in for gratis! Get the fans inside Upper Montclair Country Club, illustriously designed by Tillinghast/Jones, and everyone wins!
This weekend a two-day summit welcoming one-hundred players and LPGA top-brass will convene at Kingsmill Resort to discuss the future of the Tour and the likelihood of its survival and growth.
If the LPGA ship does sink, there may be a lot of women vying for a spot on the PGA Tour.
Photo Credit: © Around Hawaii
Tweet this blog… Your followers will thank you!
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@worldgolf.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.worldgolf.com/stacy_solomon or through iTunes.
Get to know us on You Tube, MySpace and TWEET US on Twitter!

WorldGolf.com's Golf for Beginners podcast features golf tips and advice from tour pros and experts. Hosts Stacy and Barry blend personal anecdotes with tips on equipment and instruction from tour professionals and magazines in this weekly podcast.
Add to:
|
Archives
|