......all of the young LPGA " Superstars" have a long way to go. You see who won the tournament Saturday. The older , more experienced woman golfers are out playing the young , fashion super-models who are golf wanna-be's. Too many younger golfers are more worried about their golf outfits, ear-rings, scarves, etc. Let's take Michele Wie for an example. ( ho ho ho) I bet that she did not have on one bit of clothes that did NOT say , " NIKE ". If the truth were known, I bet she had on "NIKE " underwear. But enough of Miss Wie. I don't think that any of the younger women golfers under 25 years of age will amount to anything for at least 5 years, or more, until they get more experience , and mature. And for the LPGA , they need to boost the winner's earnings on the tournaments. It's a shame what the women take home for winning, as compared to the men. There , I've opened a bigger can of worms for everyone. Enjoy , .....Slicer
Annika proved why she is the best female golfer on the planet.
But I don't think that these young girls are afraid of her or the other more seasoned golfers for that matter. I like what I see happening on the LPGA now, although I do think that some of the girls dress a tad slutty for my tastes. But even at that, they're a fresh breath of air for a tour that only a few years ago could only dream of getting attention. Never in the history of the LPGA has this tour ever had so much promise, so much talent, and suddenly -- sex appeal.
I'm beginning to enjoy this tour as much as the PGA, maybe more.
Boosting winner's earnings means sponsors must ante more money for the product. When the LPGA becomes a better selling product the purses will increase. The women's game will never command the dollars the men do.
I agree, although I will contend that IF Michelle Wie becomes the superstar that everyone expects her to be, we could see a similar "Tiger" effect with purses.... granted they will never equate to what the men see, even if it does happen.
Boosting winner's earnings means sponsors must ante more money for the product. When the LPGA becomes a better selling product the purses will increase. The women's game will never command the dollars the men do.
Don't be so sure. It has happened in tennis.
What did you watch this past weekend, the Buick Championship or the Women's US Open? And why?
I'll believe it's possible when I start seeing women's golf on TV every week. I don't follow tennis but isn't it just Wimbledon that has equal earnings? Or is it every tournament?
I watched some of both but I only watched the Woman's US Open because it was a major. Now I have a question for you........how much "women's" golf do you watch?
I think Wimbledon is the only tennis major that doesn't have equal pay, but I am not sure. And I don't think that men and women should necessarily make the same amount: It is not about the work performed here (in tennis women actually play fewer sets): It is about how much (and how many) people like to watch it.
I myself watch more and more LPGA golf, and I am not the only one. The battle between the teens and the thirty-somethings is interesting to watch. Kind of like the OG vs YG competition here!? Fascinating, isn't it!?
Last edited by straightshooter : July 3rd, 2006 at 11:44 PM.
Although I'll agree the PGA is a much bigger draw than the LPGA, mostly due to the skill level, I think it's a fact also that tournaments that don't have Tiger tend to attract many less viewers. Even Phil can't hold the ratings if he's not competing with the big cat.
It's interesting that now that same phenomenon is occurring on the LPGA and it is mostly due to Ms Wie, like it or not. How many non-golfers would even know who Paula or Morgan is if not for the media talking about the teenage rivalry with Michelle?
Let's be real here.........there's about 4-5 names in women's golf that attract any attention and half of those are because of their looks.
It doesn't matter why they attract extra attention. If they do, they will get extra pay. Do the men deserve the extra prize money they have received since TW joined them on tour a few years ago? Yes! They didn't really earn it, but they do deserve it, because more people are watching so there is more money to go around.
That's a big "if." Despite all the buzz about Wie, Creamer, Gulbis, and Pressel (sorry but the Koreans just aren't going to drive the US market) I haven't seen anything that will greatly increase the purses in women's events. Michelle Wie is the big draw and she's limited in the number of events she can play. Yes, the LPGA popularity is on the upswing but then again, it didn't have anywhere to go but up.
Time will tell. I myself think that buzz = money. Turning the issue into a fictitious business decision: What stock would you be buying right now: PGA or LPGA?
Time will tell. I myself think that buzz = money. Turning the issue into a fictitious business decision: What stock would you be buying right now: PGA or LPGA?
The LPGA Tour has great potential in the next 5-10 years, but don't forget that the PGA Tour "stock" is starting at a MUCH higher price than the LPGA Tour's.
The LPGA Tour has great potential in the next 5-10 years, but don't forget that the PGA Tour "stock" is starting at a MUCH higher price than the LPGA Tour's.
Of course, but you still don't get the payout unless the stock gets that high...and I can't see the LPGA Tour getting there at least until Tiger is out of the picture with no replacement.
That's an easy one. The PGA Tour is a blue chip while the LPGA is pure speculation. With last year's brightest stars not shining quite so brightly this year, the LPGA is the Michelle Wie show. How long will the one trick pony show last?
The PGA Tour isn't exactly overrun by brilliant young players either!
It's interesting that now that same phenomenon is occurring on the LPGA and it is mostly due to Ms Wie, like it or not. How many non-golfers would even know who Paula or Morgan is if not for the media talking about the teenage rivalry with Michelle?
I actually knew all these names before the media hype for Wie painted her the second coming. If you remember, or maybe not, Morgan qualified for a US Womens Open at 12. Pressel, Creamer and Lincicome dominated the junior and ameteur ranks. People who know golf, and not just what is on the TV or in the media, know who these girls are, and would have if their had never been a Michelle Wie.
People, and our culture in general, will look for a hero and a story, and in the absence of a real hero, the media and corporate america will produce one. Let the sheep gather around the false idol, as she moves on to the PGA tour. She is far too great a golfer to play on the LPGA. Just ask her.
I actually knew all these names before the media hype for Wie painted her the second coming. If you remember, or maybe not, Morgan qualified for a US Womens Open at 12. Pressel, Creamer and Lincicome dominated the junior and ameteur ranks. People who know golf, and not just what is on the TV or in the media, know who these girls are, and would have if their had never been a Michelle Wie.
People, and our culture in general, will look for a hero and a story, and in the absence of a real hero, the media and corporate america will produce one. Let the sheep gather around the false idol, as she moves on to the PGA tour. She is far too great a golfer to play on the LPGA. Just ask her.
I don't think the general public and even most golf fans would have known about Morgan or Paula before they reached the LPGA. There aren't a whole lot of people who bother to follow juniors and amateurs. The average golf fan follows the professional tours, mostly the PGA and always has.
I have followed golf for forever it seems and I never even gave the amateurs a thought. I watched the PGA and the LPGA when televised. I saw Annika win her first major and have been an LPGA fan since then, however, there are lots of players I wouldn't know if they walked up to me and introduced themselves. The main reason I know of Paula and Morgan has to do with the original media "cat fight" nonsense that keep brought them to my attention.
July 3rd, 2006, 09:25 PM
Despite all the buzz about Wie, Creamer, Gulbis, and Pressel (sorry but the Koreans just aren't going to drive the US market) I haven't seen anything that will greatly increase the purses in women's events. Michelle Wie is the big draw and she's limited in the number of events she can play. Yes, the LPGA popularity is on the upswing but then again, it didn't have anywhere to go but up.
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