Post by mr3putt on Jan 6, 2015 2:43:44 GMT
No question the LPGA is one of the best sports entertainment value.
Yes, there have been great positive strides in the past 5 years....but women's golf caters to such a small niche market.
The LPGA will always be a distant 3rd to the men's tours (PGA & Euro tour).
If not for the international influence...the US based LPGA tour might have collapsed.
Of the 33 LPGA 2015 events......22 (67%) events have lead sponsors with global HQ's outside of the US....(I believe the lead sponsor of the Founders & Kingsmill is JTBC).
I believe the Korean networks also paid a large sum for the GC feed.
Mericans don't really care much for the LPGA.
Why did it take 7-8 months to announce a sponsor for the now defunct KNC/Dinah....a major.
Now this event is sponsored by ANA (Japanese based airline) for an event held in Palm Springs.
I put blame on women themselves for the lack of interest in the LPGA.
The major target market for the LPGA is middle aged men.
I played with two provincial teenage female golfers last May....when I asked them who their favorite LPGA pros were they struggled to name a pro...yet had no difficulty naming their favorite male pros.
IMO...the most logical method to significantly increase the popularity of women's golf (although a daunting task) is to tie it closer to the men's events.....especially the majors.
Women's tennis is just about as popular as men's tennis.
Just because many cannot carry their driver 310 yards doesn't mean we can't learn from the men's game. The men have very sound fundamentals and course management....IMO....the men have superior short games vs. the women.
It's more a question that the average male can "relate" to the average distances of the LPGA tour.
Yes, there have been great positive strides in the past 5 years....but women's golf caters to such a small niche market.
The LPGA will always be a distant 3rd to the men's tours (PGA & Euro tour).
If not for the international influence...the US based LPGA tour might have collapsed.
Of the 33 LPGA 2015 events......22 (67%) events have lead sponsors with global HQ's outside of the US....(I believe the lead sponsor of the Founders & Kingsmill is JTBC).
I believe the Korean networks also paid a large sum for the GC feed.
Mericans don't really care much for the LPGA.
Why did it take 7-8 months to announce a sponsor for the now defunct KNC/Dinah....a major.
Now this event is sponsored by ANA (Japanese based airline) for an event held in Palm Springs.
I put blame on women themselves for the lack of interest in the LPGA.
The major target market for the LPGA is middle aged men.
I played with two provincial teenage female golfers last May....when I asked them who their favorite LPGA pros were they struggled to name a pro...yet had no difficulty naming their favorite male pros.
IMO...the most logical method to significantly increase the popularity of women's golf (although a daunting task) is to tie it closer to the men's events.....especially the majors.
Women's tennis is just about as popular as men's tennis.
Just because many cannot carry their driver 310 yards doesn't mean we can't learn from the men's game. The men have very sound fundamentals and course management....IMO....the men have superior short games vs. the women.
It's more a question that the average male can "relate" to the average distances of the LPGA tour.