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Post by HappyFan on Jan 27, 2016 17:33:43 GMT
The Asian sponsors stepped up big time to help the LPGA, and that was spurred by the great Asian players (especially the Koreans).
Whan's contribution was accepting the international nature of the tour, in fact embracing it. He wasn't turning sponsors away just because they weren't from America. And he certainly wasn't publicly floating the idea of kicking golfers out of the tour who don't speak fluent English. Unlike his predecessor, he never treated them as a problem to be solved, but rather a strength to be exploited.
I like the fact that Whan often mentions a Korean golfer when he talks. He has called So Yeon Ryu, for instance, the perfect tour member, not just because of her golf but because of her overall attitude. Yes, he does talk up the Americans perhaps more than they merit, but the fact that he is always speaking about the international stars and the positives they bring sets a tone for the entire tour. I give him thumbs up for that.
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Post by HappyFan on Jan 27, 2016 17:35:05 GMT
My favorite Whan quote about Ryu was something like: 'if she ever has a bad day, I've never seen it.' (because she's always in such a positive, good mood)
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Post by don on Jan 27, 2016 17:37:06 GMT
Going back to look at 2012 and 2013 when they started adding events again.
2012 ISPS Handa Australian Open, Manulife Financial in Canada, Lotte Championship in Hawaii. Kingsmill and Jamie Farr returned to schedule.
2013 Added North Texas Shootout, Pure Silk Bahamas, Reignwood Pinve Valley in China
2014 Meijer LPGA Classic in Grand Rapids, Swinging Skirts in San Francisco, International Crown, Alabama Classic retured. Maybe one in China.
So it was mostly the US and Canada that added events. I didn't realize a lot of the Asian swing had been around for so long.
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Post by don on Jan 27, 2016 17:39:53 GMT
Happy,
Totally agree with you. Whan really seems to embrace and enjoy the international LPGA. Even when things were looking bad.
Did the Korean TV deal renew recently? I thought it was up after 2015. I'm sure I have that wrong though.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2016 18:51:38 GMT
My favorite Whan quote about Ryu was something like: 'if she ever has a bad day, I've never seen it.' (because she's always in such a positive, good mood) When SYR finally has a bad day, Whan will be able to blame the Italian. |
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Post by mr3putt on Jan 27, 2016 20:03:47 GMT
Does Mike Whan get too much credit for the LPGA turning around? I don't want to take anything away from what his team has accomplished, they are probably awesome. I like them. But what were some of the other circumstances that lead to the rebound (beyond just the broad economy). One could get the impression that it was the asian players, events and sponsors that really filled the void after 2009. No question Whan helped recover the LPGA after what Bivens (it figures a woman would destroy a women's tour  ) had ruined.....but it had sunk to an all time low....so I think others could have steered the ship to recovery too.....maybe not to the extent of Whan...but then again.....maybe another commish might have done an even superior job vs what Whan and the LPGA team have created. The thing I give Whan credit for is his risk taking, 'get the job' done attitude and if there are faults .......he'll take the blame. This was demonstrated when he forged ahead with the 'play for free' inaugural Founder's Cup. It was maybe still one year out...but he couldn't wait and went ahead to tweek it in future years. |
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Post by mr3putt on Jan 27, 2016 20:08:38 GMT
Yes, he does talk up the Americans perhaps more than they merit......... Ya think. I've said it before.....Whan is commissioner of a very GLOBAL tour....his Yank fanfare bringing the Solheim Cup into the LPGA was obnoxious. IMO....it should have been Inkster bringing in the trophy and Whan as an on looker. |
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Post by mr3putt on Jan 27, 2016 20:24:13 GMT
So it was mostly the US and Canada that added events. I didn't realize a lot of the Asian swing had been around for so long. It's not so much where events have sprung up but who is sponsoring them. Of the 17 events played on Merican soil (not counting the USWO or Int'l Crown).....the majority (nine) have sponsors where their global HQ is based in the Pac Rim. Of the 32 stroke play LPGA events that require a sponsor..... 23 events (72%) have global HQ's in the Pac Rim. IMO...it's a joke that the LPGA is a Yank based tour....the LPGA HQ should be moved to the Pac Rim so it's HO staff will be closer to make sales calls to their current and potential sponsors. |
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Post by don on Jan 27, 2016 21:25:06 GMT
Thanks 3Putt. Yeah, I've been through the sponsors list a few times. I had to look at lot of them up - Pac Rim indeed. Surprised this story isn't told, it's always Whan this and Whan that which is fine but the money behind women's golf is very interesting, too.
It seems like the big domino to fall for the LPGA would be to get a Chinese star to pull a Se Ri Pak at the US Open. A multiple major winner from China with charisma and big personality would be great.
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Post by mr3putt on Jan 28, 2016 1:24:35 GMT
Did the Korean TV deal renew recently? I thought it was up after 2015. I'm sure I have that wrong though. I'm not sure about the expiry of the Korean TV deal....but I believe they pay a pretty penny to obtain the TV feed for re-broadcast....I'm not sure if the Korean networks pay the LPGA or GC for the feed. |
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Post by philknj on Jan 28, 2016 1:32:32 GMT
It seems like the big domino to fall for the LPGA would be to get a Chinese star to pull a Se Ri Pak at the US Open. Muni He doesn't have to win...she just has to show up.  BTW, she's gonna be in a BIG Junior tournament in mid-February, the Annika Invitational in Reunion, FL. Three rounds of medal play...the field will also have M. Galdiano, K. Gillman, Sierra Brooks, Hannah O., and Andrea Lee. ***************** Don, I don’t know if you were close follower of the LPGA during Bivens’ “Reign of Terror” (2006 thru mid-2009). I think Whan was smart enough to look back on his predecessor and think, “If I turn everything 180 degrees, how can I go wrong?” |
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Post by mr3putt on Jan 28, 2016 1:46:56 GMT
1) Thanks 3Putt. Yeah, I've been through the sponsors list a few times. I had to look at lot of them up - Pac Rim indeed. Surprised this story isn't told, it's always Whan this and Whan that which is fine but the money behind women's golf is very interesting, too. 2) It seems like the big domino to fall for the LPGA would be to get a Chinese star to pull a Se Ri Pak at the US Open. A multiple major winner from China with charisma and big personality would be great. 1) You shouldn't be surprised...Yanks luv themselves and obviously the LPGA and GC are Merican biased....except .......the Yanks continue to try to claim the Canadian Princess as their own....both GC and the LPGA drool over her......though The Smiling Buddha doesn't trip over his own two feet to fanboy Brooke....heck....he didn't even watch her play one hole at the 2015 CP CWO...yes this behavior cause The Smiling Buddha to surrender his Canadian passport for 1 week during the event. 2) Unless a new Chinese star who looks like a 20 something Lucy Li, dominates the LPGA (7+ wins including majors per year), speaks perfect Mandarin and English and does some kind of semi-nude cover for Golf Digest...the Chinese and the world won't care. SS Feng lost her Elford sponsorship shortly after winning a major. Golf is considered an elitist sport in China that only few can afford to play....the Chinese govn't is shutting down courses.....few care about golf in China. Only if The Smiling Buddda was parachuted to become the President of China could golf in China be saved.  |
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Post by mr3putt on Jan 28, 2016 1:54:19 GMT
It seems like the big domino to fall for the LPGA would be to get a Chinese star to pull a Se Ri Pak at the US Open. Muni He doesn't have to win...she just has to show up. BTW, she's gonna be in a BIG Junior tournament in mid-February, the Annika Invitational in Reunion, FL. Three rounds of medal play...the field will also have M. Galdiano, K. Gillman, Sierra Brooks, Hannah O., and Andrea Lee. ***************** Don, I don’t know if you were close follower of the LPGA during Bivens’ “Reign of Terror” (2006 thru mid-2009). I think Whan was smart enough to look back on his predecessor and think, “If I turn everything 180 degrees, how can I go wrong?” LMAO Correct. I forgot about Muni when I was writing my post at the same time you were creating your post. You do know that TonyJ basically created the Muni 'FAN'dom that lit the internet on fire and formed a nation of Muni fanboys.  Hannah wins the Mannika event. Ya, a monkey could have saved the LPGA after Bivens, what a clown....but hey...a skirt just got elected to Chair the LPGA Board of Directors recently....hmmm.  |
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Post by don on Jan 28, 2016 2:26:31 GMT
Don, I don’t know if you were close follower of the LPGA during Bivens’ “Reign of Terror” (2006 thru mid-2009). I think Whan was smart enough to look back on his predecessor and think, “If I turn everything 180 degrees, how can I go wrong?”
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I wasn't following to the extent that I knew the commish. I did buy a see-through putter grip because Loreana had one though. Instead of a Mexican flag I had one of those sexy mud-flap models.
I was never a big SKor fan boy but it bothered me that "golf fans" said they didn't watch the LPGA because none of them spoke 'merican. Most people are really just men's golf fans, which means they might not really like golf, IMO. Actually what really pissed me off was how Yani wasn't getting much press. She's been my fav for a long time and still is.
Anyway, now I watch every week, know most of the players and I'll rewatch some of events over and over. The final of the Ricoh has been my go to this winter. Winbee is such a terminator.
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Post by don on Jan 28, 2016 2:27:48 GMT
Oh, the other reason I started following the non-americans was that the US Solheim team was impossible to root for during about a 6 year window.
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) had ruined.....but it had sunk to an all time low....so I think others could have steered the ship to recovery too.....maybe not to the extent of Whan...but then again.....maybe another commish might have done an even superior job vs what Whan and the LPGA team have created.
