The Women's Game - Why the Identity Crisis?

[Carl Rogers]

Is part of the problem (please argue the existence of the problem?) a lack of interesting memorable courses?!?!

The Broadmor and Pine Needles are the only two I remember of late.

[Andrew Brown]

Although you don't identify the "crisis" exactly, is it in crisis?

It certainly has a lower recognition factor than the men's game IMO.

Last year I worked the Solheim Cup as an Observer with the Referee's team for the event. It was everything I imagined it to be, with good crowds vocal, informed and polite. A great atmosphere, and an exciting final day with the result coming down to the wire.

In Ireland's papers, it was relegated to well within the depths of the sports pages. When I got home, I trawled through online newspapers, media news sites and golf websites. In the mainstream media, there was scant mention of the event. To me, there-in lies a problem. If this event couldn't move the dial, then it is demonstrative of a lack of recognition at the very least.

Women's golf is a fantastic sport. But it gets a hard time getting substantial coverage and recognition across much of the media spectrum.

[Dan Herrmann]

To me, the LPGA is shooting itself in its foot.  The LPGA professionals tend to play great from tee to green and then slow to a g-l-a-c-i-a-l pace on the green.

I used to attend the LPGA Championship every year, but I'll never attend another LPGA event as long as each player takes 2-3 minutes to play each putt over 1'.

That's why - the LPGA has become unwatchable in person.

[Phil McDade]

Not to go all xenophobic, but I'm guessing the women's game doesn't have an identity crisis in South Korea or Asia, generally.

In terms of the identity crisis here in the U.S., I think it has to do with a lack of a compelling personality, or personalities/rivalries. Golf on the men's side has always seen cycles of great personal stories, triumphs and rivalries, all the way back to Ouimet, and including Jones, Hagen, the Hogan-Nelson-Snead rivalry, Hogan himself, Palmer, Palmer-Nicklaus, Nicklaus-Trevino-Watson, the great wave of European talent, Norman, and up to Woods. I actually think the men's side may be suffering a bit lately, since Tiger's denouement (perhaps still pending).

The LPGA lacks that -- it had it w/ Nancy Lopez, and some others, but not lately. That many golf fans don't even know the name of the game's top player -- who is by historical measures maybe one of the best of all time -- speaks volumes. It could've been Wie, but she's been busy w/ school, I think.

[Sam Morrow]

I think everything mentioned thus far has some merit but I will go one step further, I think many golfers just don't take the LPGA seriously. It's a very closed minded view but talking to golfers over the years they think the LPGA is a sideshow. Then you factor in that for many years the LPGA had the lesbian stigma it doesn't help. There are lots of cute girls playing now but people only pay attention because they are cute.

I really don't know what the LPGA could do to help itself, I don't think they really know either.

[Dan Herrmann]

Sam - The upcoming US Open at Pinehurst #2 may turn out to be a make-or-break event for the LPGA.  Fortunately, the post-remediation from the Bivens era continues.   She may have been the worst commissioner in the history of the world of sports.

[Greg Tallman]

Lack of identifiable star power. Lack of physical prowess among the stars. Lack of sex appeal at the highest level. Women's tennis has all of these things. Michelle Wie had a shot at breathng life into the women's game but she has fallen woefully short as yet. I will not soon forget the number of people gathered around the TVs in the golf shop and grille when she was on her way to winning the Nabisco (2007 or 2008?). Only Tiger generates such interest (Maybe Rickie vs. Rory after today).

Having the two most dominant players in the game walk away at very young ages does not help. While neither were American hey were players that many identified with far better than today's top players.

An Annika vs. Lorena rivalry would have been good for the game.

While many correctly point to the foregin impact how many even know that two American glas battled it out down the stretch last week? How many care?

Somebody threw this out a week or so ago... I honestly believe Augusta could breath some life into the women's game by hosting the Ladies Masters. Heck, I am not even sure the course could be setup at a yardage sufficient for the ladies. At any rate, all I can say is I would watch.

Beyond that I would agree with others that convincing some of the great old courses to host events would help. Probably not going to happen but The U.S. Women's Open at Cypress Point? Sure dangerous to market the venue rather than the stars but bizz is buzz when you have zero.

Mike Keiser is a champion of the game... Host a regular tour event playing all four courses. Gotta think outside the box. I understand that the fan factor is a killer for Bandon but one time per year with the resort as the sponsor, why not? Make it the ladies version Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

[Keith OHalloran]

Greg,
Do you think that the Women's Open at Sebonack will generate any of the buzz that you are talking about?

[Greg Tallman]

Greg,
Do you think that the Women's Open at Sebonack will generate any of the buzz that you are talking about?

Honestly? No, I actually typed and deleted "why not the US Women's Open at NGLA rather than Sebonack?" No offense to Sebonack but having a great old course in the same area would likely generate more buzz or at least give something to market.

[Scott Weersing]

Is part of the problem (please argue the existence of the problem?) a lack of interesting memorable courses?!?!

The Broadmor and Pine Needles are the only two I remember of late.

I think the USGA knows that the Women's Open needs to be played on memorable courses. And so they do choose great courses. But it is hard to convince great courses in areas with people to host an LPGA event. For example, the LPGA could play at SF Golf Club rather than the course they play the Longs Challenge, Blackhawk CC, in Danville. But the PGA plays courses in big cities that are not the best courses either, ie, Liberty National.

So I would say, great courses would help the LPGA, but I think stars winning on those courses would help more.

[Sam Morrow]

Sam - The upcoming US Open at Pinehurst #2 may turn out to be a make-or-break event for the LPGA.  Fortunately, the post-remediation from the Bivens era continues.   She may have been the worst commissioner in the history of the world of sports.

I agree with the Open at Pinehurst being make or break but not for the ladies but for the USGA. I want the USGA to do well but I expect from to screw up. I could see them stressing the greens so much for the men that by the following week the gals will be playing on dead greens. I also expect a play-off on Monday and the gals bitching about losing a day of practice.

[Dan King]

Michelle Wie just graduated with a communications degree from Stanford. She will now be able to dedicate full-time to golf, and perhaps that will make a difference. The next few years will tell.

Cheers,
Dan King

"Hopefully, I will be able to play the Ryder Cup one day, that would be awesome and I think it is totally possible."
 --Michelle Wie

[Kris Shreiner]

The women's game needs to get more WOMEN to pay attention. It's a known fact that women make up a significant portion of the buying power in today's economy, worldwide. It should be an advertising bonanza...yet they struggle.

Yani is dominant, and is a sweet gal, but let's be frank, she's not drawing the eyeballs, especially the men. Those that the Golf Channel has covering the sport are about as exciting to hear as a mortician's convention. The strong Asian contingent doesn't generate increased viewers stateside, or in much of Europe.

Lexi Thompson looks like a star on the rise. Sports' need characters and rivals to really elevate the events into compelling viewing for large numbers of non-core, casual fans. The course quality has improved for the gals; at least at the Majors for sure. It's a process and the gals game has a tough environment in which to make progress just now.

I think a mixed event, with two, two person teams representing each country in a match play competition, would be great for the gals and the men, while also bringing more interest from non-traditional golf viewers. Elevate it beyond the" Wendy's" Fall event status into a World Championship format, rotate the venues, worldwide, and I believe you'd have a winner for the game.

Cheers,
Kris

P.S.- I think that the back to back effort at Pinehurst is going to leave one of the two with a less testing(or worse) presentation. Having walked more than a few U.S. Open courses after the event...they are blasted condition-wise at the conclusion. Now throw in practice rounds before event number two and where are you?
How can you not lesson the stress that a "championship" presentation constitutes, and still have it provide the usual rigor AND maintain quality conditioning throughout? I just don't see it possible without compromise, especially in June there at Pinehurst...lessoning the test for one of the two!

[Terry Lavin]

Pornanong Phatlum just won the LPGA event in Brazil. Porn Phat?

No further questions.