I don't know how to react anymore to these reoccurring headlines appearing on the internet golf sites that another LPGA sponsor has dropped their support. Finding an answer to why this has been a consistent issue appears simple to some and like finding your way out of a labyrinth to others. Economic downturn? Over-emphasis on the PGA Tour? Sexist attitudes invading the realm of golf? Whatever it is, this is a habit benefitting no one.
Personally, I have nothing against the LPGA. In fact, I appreciate and captivated when watching the talented, passionate golfers of the LPGA. However, I also admit that while I preach about enjoying women's golf, I don't follow their events closely by any means. For example, sometimes I'll be online exploring the worldwide web and have the epiphany that its Thursday and will instantly open a new tab and relish in ESPN's coverage of the current PGA event. Why don't I don't feel compelled to, or even think about, the women's event being played?
Does anyone else understand where I am coming from?
Aside from the hype regarding Michelle Wie a few years ago that never quite came to fruition, the dominance of Annika and the present command of the game by Lorena Ochoa, I am oblivious to the state of the LPGA Tour. Scratch that: I am oblivious to it aside from the incessant, depressing news updates like that the 'Kingsmill sponsor has just pulled out.'
A few weeks ago I read about a LPGA Tour player/model who has been taking modeling photos with golf clubs in hand, leaning on her golf bag, or with something golf-related in the background. She feels that this will boost viewers desire to stay connected to the state of the LPGA Tour. Another piece of news that caught my attention was the proposal that just like at baseball game's when players march up to the plate a song of their choosing is played in the background, so too should LPGA players have their own song played on the 1st tee and as they stroll up the 18th. This idea is meant to lure in viewers by sending a personal message from the players to the audience. Not bad in my opinion, but then again, it totally puts into question the tradition and etiquette that golf is based on. However, sometimes respect for tradition needs to be overlooked because a desparate situation like this requires change of the status quo.
There may be no correct route, but that also means that the LPGA Tour is bound by nothing. This may be he most exciting time for the LPGA in its history because they have the opportunity to experiment with diverse paths of alluring an apathetic audience. There is no doubt that this is an overwhelming and scary task, but hopefully it will be pursued by a passionate group of LPGA supporters compelled to revamp and redefine the temptation and caliber of womens golf.
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2 comments:
the LPGA has no really great competitor or head-to-head competition to care about. There is nothing really compelling to watch. It is also very Asian in make-up - some weird stat about no American woman winning a tournament in a long time means that American audiences may not be so drawn to watch the ALPGA (Asian Ladies Pro Golf Assn.) Much like tennis, golf needs strong competition; it needs a big name or two; some swagger; some drama; some sex appeal, even (but not the kind drummed up by calendar shots of pretty golfers). Nor does it need the favorite song played before a player tees off. That is circus-like. Why are we so interested in Michelle Wie. Well, she is pretty and she has amazing athletic talents...and she is an American. She was also ridiculously young when she started. As she gets into her early 20s, she may actually compete well and create some of that competition tension golf needs. I like Ochoa and Creamer and some of the others on the tour but can hardly name one of the Asian pros (which may be a bit ethnocentric on my part) but even the LPGA recognizes the issue here - didnt they try to get the foreign athletes to all speak English or something?
Ultimately, golf needs brilliance more than beauty so if some new star emerges and wows the heck out of us...we will watch and the advertisers will return.
The problem with LPGA isn't because they are televising women. It isn't because the leaderboard is all-Asian. It's not even because few are hot and many are not.
No one watches women's golf because they don't have Tiger.
Let's face it -- golf as a spectator sport is just a notch above Professional Paintball -- which is still a few notches above Professional bowling, but that's another story. Without Tiger, tv ratings would plummet and sponsors would disappear. For whatever reason, people like watching Tiger...do anything. Hell, I'd watch him play paintball. I'd watch him watch paintball paint dry! (Well, maybe not.) But I sure won't waste an afternoon watching a PGA tournament where Elin's husband is not in the field. People love watching this guy so much, they'll stay tuned even when he's not on the leaderboard. (Why do you think networks continue to cut to Tiger's every shot -- even when he's 10 strokes behind? Ratings, baby!)
To save the LPGA, there's only one solution. They need to enlist Tiger. Have him play from the tips and the rest of the women in the field play from the reds. And to really even things up, Tiger has to play with both his kids slung to his back. And make him wear one of Natalie Gulbis's skirts! (I fear for her every time she has to bend over to retrieve her ball from the cup.)
Now THAT'S tv worth watching!
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