Quote:
Originally Posted by John_W
Just looking at it from the point of prize money, yes there is a great disparity in prize money, it doesn't matter which women's sports, it's always less than men. The President of the LPGA Mike Wham for the past 11 years is stepping this year and taking over the USGA because of his success. Your comments would of accurate ten years ago, but the difference he has made while in office have revitalized the women's tour.
This is from Golf Magazine January 6, 2021;
Over the past 11 years he rescued the LPGA from the brink and guided the tour through a series of financial challenges, most recently the coronavirus pandemic. The LPGA recently announced an ambitious schedule for this year, a 34-event slate that features new tournaments, new sponsors and a record $76.45 million in prize money. In 2010, the year Whan took over, the LPGA had only 24 official events – its smallest schedule in nearly 40 years – and just $41.4 million in prize money.
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan to Step Down This Year | Golf Channel |
The LPGA really went down after the financial crisis. Whan did a good job rebounding them. The TV contract and sponsored events raise less money than for the men so the purses are lower. That is just the way the finances work. Women's tennis has a unique situation with the men, equal purses which they fought hard with. It helps them that the events are at the same time at the same location, and that women tennis pro's are/were large enough stars in the publics mind.
It is getting better with more events and larger purses.