What level what a LPGA player be in the men's game?

[Backsticks]

I never understand the need to ask a question like this. Physical strength differences mean the male and female games are different. Doesn't make the the women's game any less valid or LPGA players any less impressive - just as male pros are head and shoulders better than male ams so are the pro women well beyond us mere mortals.

On distance, though, it's worth noting that when you factor in average male/female driving distances the women play proportionately longer courses than the men.

Which is great, and its due to the fact that they room to extend ladies courses easily and cheaply, unlike for men following the distance boom twenty years ago that destroyed so many mens courses. Mens courses should be about another 800m longers typically for the pros with current equipment. But tailing back the ball 15% solves that in a better way.

 

[Backsticks]

it wouldn't susprise me to see them competing with the men off the same tees.

Men are bigger and stronger, so no chance. Men are bigger and stronger and will always hit it further. If the original balance of golf skills was restored however, and distance reduced as the critical score determinant, the gap would narrow. But still not close. Men are bigger and stronger.

 

[Jigger]

Women shouldn’t have to and don’t need to compete with men. There’s clear physical distances.

I do however believe the men’s field should be cut in half in tournaments and there should be an equal amount of women pros playing at the same event, on alternating tee times to the men, in their own tournament and on their own tees so exposure and prize money is shared.

There was a report came out a couple of years ago that said in female pro cycling, it was the second worst sport for being financially supported by professional organisations to bring parity to both genders. The worst was golf!

There’s so much money floating around sport now, all it will take is a couple of brave decisions.

 

[DPapas1982]

Women shouldn’t have to and don’t need to compete with men. There’s clear physical distances.

I do however believe the men’s field should be cut in half in tournaments and there should be an equal amount of women pros playing at the same event, on alternating tee times to the men, in their own tournament and on their own tees so exposure and prize money is shared.

There was a report came out a couple of years ago that said in female pro cycling, it was the second worst sport for being financially supported by professional organisations to bring parity to both genders. The worst was golf!

There’s so much money floating around sport now, all it will take is a couple of brave decisions.

You can’t force people to watch the sport so as to generate income.

 

[Backsticks]

Women shouldn’t have to and don’t need to compete with men. There’s clear physical distances.

I do however believe the men’s field should be cut in half in tournaments and there should be an equal amount of women pros playing at the same event, on alternating tee times to the men, in their own tournament and on their own tees so exposure and prize money is shared.

There was a report came out a couple of years ago that said in female pro cycling, it was the second worst sport for being financially supported by professional organisations to bring parity to both genders. The worst was golf!

There’s so much money floating around sport now, all it will take is a couple of brave decisions.

It would be most unfair to have the mens subsidise the womens game. It is business. The men have a product that people want to see, attracts the headlines, sponsors, and big money. Why should they share out their business with anyone else ? If people wanted to watch womens golf they would pay to, and the sponsors would be there with the prize checks. Its up to the LET, LPGA to build their product, not get a handout from another business organisation.

 

[Jigger]

You can’t force people to watch the sport so as to generate income.

That’s just a not an argument. In any case it would improve the viewing as you are seeing two titles being contested at the same time.

 

[Jigger]

It would be most unfair to have the mens subsidise the womens game. It is business. The men have a product that people want to see, attracts the headlines, sponsors, and big money. Why should they share out their business with anyone else ? If people wanted to watch womens golf they would pay to, and the sponsors would be there with the prize checks. It’s up to the LET, LPGA to build their product, not get a handout from another business organisation.

So how much of the back order do you see on tv?

 

[Backsticks]

That’s just a not an argument. In any case it would improve the viewing as you are seeing two titles being contested at the same time.

It would disimprove it. Golf is predominantly played by men, they spend the money on it, and are open to being influenced by sponsorship through it. Ladies tournament would dilute rather than enhance, given the interest in the ladies pro game is a fraction of the mens.

 

[Backsticks]

So how much of the back order do you see on tv?

Very little. The coverage focuses on the top of the field rather those missing the cut at the back of the field. The top 20 plus a few notables showcases the big names that draw in viewers in the first place.

 

[DPapas1982]

That’s just a not an argument. In any case it would improve the viewing as you are seeing two titles being contested at the same time.

Do you really think they’re two differing markets? Because they aren’t.
Mens golf watched by let’s say 5m, women’s 500k, of those 500k, 450k will be from the 5m watching the men’s, who are happy to give it a watch. So currently total audience is 5.5m. if we held them all together the audience becomes 5.05m.

This notion we have to make things equal on something that is based on supply and demand is ridiculous.

 

[Hobbit]

Women shouldn’t have to and don’t need to compete with men. There’s clear physical distances.

I do however believe the men’s field should be cut in half in tournaments and there should be an equal amount of women pros playing at the same event, on alternating tee times to the men, in their own tournament and on their own tees so exposure and prize money is shared.

There was a report came out a couple of years ago that said in female pro cycling, it was the second worst sport for being financially supported by professional organisations to bring parity to both genders. The worst was golf!

There’s so much money floating around sport now, all it will take is a couple of brave decisions.

Good point re a split field. Would I want to see the 120th male golfer or the best female golfer? Yeah, I’d definitely vote for a split field.

 

[Backsticks]

Good point re a split field. Would I want to see the 120th male golfer or the best female golfer? Yeah, I’d definitely vote for a split field.

You dont see the 120th male golfer anyway. Watching women would be similar to just having more advert breaks. Just a wait to get back to what people switched on for. It would be infuriating.
Womens golf is fine. I watch it. But in its own box. It is demand and supply at the end, and the demand for womens tournament viewing is minimal. Most LPGA tournaments look like they have fewer than an DP Tour one, and that isnt much either. We dont alternate scenes from Coronation St and Eastenders in a soap. Ladies and mens tournaments are telling different stories too - dont mix them. Ladies golf needs to justify itself, not be a charity living off what mens tours have achieved.

 

[Hobbit]

You dont see the 120th male golfer anyway. Watching women would be similar to just having more advert breaks. Just a wait to get back to what people switched on for. It would be infuriating.
Womens golf is fine. I watch it. But in its own box. It is demand and supply at the end, and the demand for womens tournament viewing is minimal. Most LPGA tournaments look like they have fewer than an DP Tour one, and that isnt much either. We dont alternate scenes from Coronation St and Eastenders in a soap. Ladies and mens tournaments are telling different stories too - dont mix them. Ladies golf needs to justify itself, not be a charity living off what mens tours have achieved.

You do see them if you go to the tournaments, as some of us do. And you do get to see the 120th player in the first couple of rounds if they’re drawn with someone from the top of the rankings.

Thankfully, on the continent the crowds are reasonable and you can get to most groups comfortably apart from on the last day. Having more prestige groups spreads the crowd.

You say no, I say yes. No harm in disagreeing.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

A perfect example would be this weekend

It was a Ladies Major going on - there is no talk about it all on the threads

There was a Seniors Open - plenty of talk about that

The Ladies Major was the main coverage on Sky golf -how many clubs like ours pressed the red button over both days to watch the Seniors ?

Very much don’t have an issue with equal pay etc but it needs to be funded by the income of each tour not have other tours subsidised it

 

[peld]

I've always thought a good idea to increase female viewership is to have them playing at the same event as men.

Obviously US focused, but maybe have a womens event at a nearby course but with a cut to qualify for the Top 15 to play on sunday - that Top 15 takes the first 5 tee times on the Sunday at a Mens PGA event. You could even make it some sort of end of season league too and be run at the FedEx Cup events when the PGA is smaller fields.

 

[sweaty sock]

If you want people to watch it you just need to have it available to watch, competitive sport is competitive sport - womens ashes has been 100% entertaining.

Unfortunately, its chicken and egg, until its on TV, its not making enough money to be on TV.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Interesting short vid by Iona Stephen playing a few holes at Walton Heath with Bronte Law - Law’s thoughts on comparisons made between the men’s and women’s game; the strengths of the women’s game; and how the women’s game can match up to the men’s.

And oh yes…a passing thought from Iona on holing 5ft putts

Edit…problems with the link so please see her YouTube video…

9 Holes with LET and LPGA tour winner BRONTE LAW!!

 

[Barking_Mad]

Men are bigger and stronger, so no chance. Men are bigger and stronger and will always hit it further. If the original balance of golf skills was restored however, and distance reduced as the critical score determinant, the gap would narrow. But still not close. Men are bigger and stronger.

As I said in the post, which you edited and seemingly ignored, there's a good bunch of women who hit it as long, if not further than as some men on the PGA Tour. No reason why I'm future some women can't compete alongside them.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

A perfect example would be this weekend

It was a Ladies Major going on - there is no talk about it all on the threads

There was a Seniors Open - plenty of talk about that

The Ladies Major was the main coverage on Sky golf -how many clubs like ours pressed the red button over both days to watch the Seniors ?

Very much don’t have an issue with equal pay etc but it needs to be funded by the income of each tour not have other tours subsidised it

The people playing the senior open reflects the majority of forum users and people who sits in the clubhouse watching golf on a weekend. So it’s not much of a surprise.

Sometimes you have to subsidise an endeavour to get it up and running or speed up participation. There is no harm in that. You can see the quality of the product on the LPGA is improving. The quality of golf is first class and TV production is get better.
As it gets improves, more people will watch, then participation should increase and the ladies (and game at large) grows.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The people playing the senior open reflects the majority of forum users and people who sits in the clubhouse watching golf on a weekend. So it’s not much of a surprise.

Sometimes you have to subsidise an endeavour to get it up and running or speed up participation. There is no harm in that. You can see the quality of the product on the LPGA is improving. The quality of golf is first class and TV production is get better.
As it gets improves, more people will watch, then participation should increase and the ladies (and game at large) grows.

Ladies golf isn't like football, rugby, cricket etc where they are relatively new to being professional and widely played. Ladies pro golf has been around for decades, it is already a mature sport.