LPGA is really in trouble

[BrianL99]

Last month, the LPGA had to cancel an event, because the Sponsor still hadn't paid what was due from the last year.

They're at Shadow Creek this week. Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko & Charlie Hull have already been eliminated.

This will be the weekend show. How many names do your recognize? How many can you pronounce? Only (2) "Kim's" in the field!

[Papa_lecki]

I bet less than 10-15% of the people who read this knew the LPGA was at Shadow Creek this week.

[fdpaq0580]

I bet less than 10-15% of the people who read this knew the LPGA was at Shadow Creek this week.

Deflecting from bigger issues?

[Caymus]

I wonder if they will get less coverage after Comcast spins off the Golf Channel (among other cable channels).

[Topspinmo]

Last month, the LPGA had to cancel an event, because the Sponsor still hadn't paid what was due from the last year.

They're at Shadow Creek this week. Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko & Charlie Hull have already been eliminated.

This will be the weekend show. How many names do your recognize? How many can you pronounce? Only (2) "Kim's" in the field!

Have no problems pronouncing Wi, Li, and Lee. :wave:

[Rainger99]

I wonder if they will get less coverage after Comcast spins off the Golf Channel (among other cable channels).

I hadn't seen that!! Has anyone heard how it will impact Golf Channel availability?

[Taltarzac725]

I looked at the leaderboard. Most of those names are rather easy to pronounce.

We had a wonderful huge Filipino guy as my Mom's exercise helper. The physical therapist boss could not pronounce his rather long Tagalog name, so he just called him Al. Or, something like that.

There are a lot of people with odd names (to us) working in various capacities in the nursing homes and hospitals near or in the Villages.

[fdpaq0580]

I hadn't seen that!! Has anyone heard how it will impact Golf Channel availability?

😲 really?

[Caymus]

I hadn't seen that!! Has anyone heard how it will impact Golf Channel availability?

They will need to negotiate placement/rates on the different cable systems. May not change overall availability. The "on air talent" will no longer be shared with NBC Sports.

[Pugchief]

LPGA is in trouble....for the same reason WNBA is in trouble: Almost no one watches or cares, and if not for subsidies, would not exist.

Yes, Caitlin Clark has created some temporary interest, but it likely won't last.

[Fastskiguy]

LPGA is in trouble....for the same reason WNBA is in trouble: Almost no one watches or cares, and if not for subsidies, would not exist.

Yes, Caitlin Clark has created some temporary interest, but it likely won't last.

I don't know about golf but in a lot of sports, male amateurs in their 50's and teenage boys can beat women pros so when it comes to watching women's sports, and I hate to even say this, but why? When you can watch the guys pull off superhuman feats why would you watch women play at a mens amateur level? Are they killing it around the green with better short game or what?

Joe

[Taltarzac725]

I don't know about golf but in a lot of sports, male amateurs in their 50's and teenage boys can beat women pros so when it comes to watching women's sports, and I hate to even say this, but why? When you can watch the guys pull off superhuman feats why would you watch women play at a mens amateur level? Are they killing it around the green with better short game or what?

Joe

Beauty and grace in action.

[MX rider]

LPGA is in trouble....for the same reason WNBA is in trouble: Almost no one watches or cares, and if not for subsidies, would not exist.

Yes, Caitlin Clark has created some temporary interest, but it likely won't last.

Exactly!! LPGA is hard to watch. Hardly an fans at their events. WNBA is Caitlin Clark and nobody else really.

[1golfergal]

I bet less than 10-15% of the people who read this knew the LPGA was at Shadow Creek this week.
or, care!!!

[ithos]

I wish womens sports were as popular as the mens since it is just as important for women to stay fit by as it is for men. The more popular womens sports are the more inspired young girls will be to start participating in organized sports.

Participation in sports at least once a week among females and twice a week among males was associated with high level of physical activity in later life. Adolescent participation in the intensive endurance sports, and some sports that require and encourage diversified sports skills, appeared to be most beneficial with respect to the enhancement of adult physical activity.
Just a moment... (https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2802%2900575-5/fulltext?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

[Taltarzac725]

I wish womens sports were as popular as the mens since it is just as important for women to stay fit by as it is for men. The more popular womens sports are the more inspired young girls will be to start participating in organized sports.

Participation in sports at least once a week among females and twice a week among males was associated with high level of physical activity in later life. Adolescent participation in the intensive endurance sports, and some sports that require and encourage diversified sports skills, appeared to be most beneficial with respect to the enhancement of adult physical activity.
Just a moment... (https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2802%2900575-5/fulltext?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

It is getting more popular every year.

[Stu from NYC]

I wish womens sports were as popular as the mens since it is just as important for women to stay fit by as it is for men. The more popular womens sports are the more inspired young girls will be to start participating in organized sports.

Participation in sports at least once a week among females and twice a week among males was associated with high level of physical activity in later life. Adolescent participation in the intensive endurance sports, and some sports that require and encourage diversified sports skills, appeared to be most beneficial with respect to the enhancement of adult physical activity.
Just a moment... (https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2802%2900575-5/fulltext?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

It doesnt help that men are way to often allowed to participate in female sports.

[jimjamuser]

Deflecting from bigger issues?
I did't know about it and watching someone play golf would be torture for me. So, I guess that makes me among the 85% in this case.

[jimjamuser]

I don't know about golf but in a lot of sports, male amateurs in their 50's and teenage boys can beat women pros so when it comes to watching women's sports, and I hate to even say this, but why? When you can watch the guys pull off superhuman feats why would you watch women play at a mens amateur level? Are they killing it around the green with better short game or what?

Joe
The reason that people want to watch is that OVER 50% of the potential audience is women. Also, amateur men can LEARN more from watching the women. Most amateur men can NOT begin to DO the things that young professional men can do. So, they can learn more about their own game by watching the women professionals.

[Pugchief]

I wish women's sports were as popular as the men's since it is just as important for women to stay fit by as it is for men. The more popular women's sports are the more inspired young girls will be to start participating in organized sports.


Women should definitely play sports, even professionally. What they should not do is expect anyone to watch, and certainly not expect to get paid even one penny more than commensurate with what their league brings in for revenue. Forget subsidies.

[Pugchief]

It is getting more popular every year.

Please provide a link to support that assertion. As I stated previously, absent Caitlin Clark, almost no one would be watching WNBA.

Why would LPGA/WNBA be getting more popular? Has the product improved? Are the matches exciting?

[Pugchief]

The reason that people want to watch is that OVER 50% of the potential audience is women. Also, amateur men can LEARN more from watching the women. Most amateur men can NOT begin to DO the things that young professional men can do. So, they can learn more about their own game by watching the women professionals.

Yes, I often look to up my golf game and basketball skills by watching the women pros. [/sarcasm]

[BrianL99]

The reason that people want to watch is that OVER 50% of the potential audience is women. Also, amateur men can LEARN more from watching the women. Most amateur men can NOT begin to DO the things that young professional men can do. So, they can learn more about their own game by watching the women professionals.

Really? Can we have an example of something you've learned about playing golf, from watching the LPGA?

[JMintzer]

Really? Can we have an example of something you've learned about playing golf, from watching the LPGA?

As someone who stated "watching someone play golf would be torture", I doubt he learned a single thing...

[Fastskiguy]

LPGA is in trouble....for the same reason WNBA is in trouble: Almost no one watches or cares, and if not for subsidies, would not exist.

Yes, Caitlin Clark has created some temporary interest, but it likely won't last.

The reason that people want to watch is that OVER 50% of the potential audience is women. Also, amateur men can LEARN more from watching the women. Most amateur men can NOT begin to DO the things that young professional men can do. So, they can learn more about their own game by watching the women professionals.

I agree 100% amateur men can learn a lot from pro women, I know I certainly have! But not from watching them...more from coaching and podcasts (in my case at least). I'd rather watch the men pull of their incredible feats....although watching women has its charms.

(OK don't label me as a creep! I'm just saying what you are thinking!)

Joe

[Birdrm]

I don't know about golf but in a lot of sports, male amateurs in their 50's and teenage boys can beat women pros so when it comes to watching women's sports, and I hate to even say this, but why? When you can watch the guys pull off superhuman feats why would you watch women play at a mens amateur level? Are they killing it around the green with better short game or what?

Joe

Actually, I do enjoy watching the women play because they are much closer to my golf game compared the the guys on the PGA tour. When I see a woman hit a 7 iron 140 yards that is about what I would hit, not like the men hitting a 52 degree wedge from 140 yards!

[Stu from NYC]

As someone who stated "watching someone play golf would be torture", I doubt he learned a single thing...

How to place a ball correctly on a T? Proper way to clean a golf ball?

[ThirdOfFive]

Actually, I do enjoy watching the women play because they are much closer to my golf game compared the the guys on the PGA tour. When I see a woman hit a 7 iron 140 yards that is about what I would hit, not like the men hitting a 52 degree wedge from 140 yards!
The answer? Whether it is the LPGA, the WNBA, Women's Association Football, NCAA women's basketball, Women's full-contact football, flat track roller derby, Women's gridiron football, lacrosse, the WTA, or whatever female league we're talking about...is simple. those leagues succeed or not, not because of the skill of the individual female contestants in whatever league we're talking about, but because of the financial subsidization they get (or not) from the MALE counterpart of whatever sport is under discussion.

We, as a race, are hardwired to value male attributes such as speed, coordination, strength, and teamwork. Virtually every Olympic sport as well as many others have that as the primary value. As far back as the stone age those male attributes were the deciding factor if the tribe ate or not, were slaughtered or not by the tribe in the next valley, which tribe got the best cave for the winter, etc. etc. The female skills were of an entirely different type: child raising, assuring domestic tranquility, making sure which kid belonged to which guy, cooking, medicine (such as it was), etc. etc. We, as a species, place value on the relative contribution each gender provides to the whole. There is a reason that the Miss America pageant doesn't (as far as I know) allow drag queens to compete.

Look. I enjoy seeing Maria Sharapova playing tennis as much as any other red-blooded guy, but let's be honest. Maria didn't land the title of the highest-paid female athlete because of her athletic abilities, extensive though they were. Would she have attained the popularity she enjoyed, and translated into dollars, if she'd have played her tennis in a pair of denim coveralls? Answer is obvious...and VERY telling. Whether we want to admit it or not, our race places importance on what each gender contributes, and we have no more control over that than we do the weather.

You can't fool Mother Nature.

[BrianL99]

The answer? Whether it is the LPGA, the WNBA, Women's Association Football, NCAA women's basketball, Women's full-contact football, flat track roller derby, Women's gridiron football, lacrosse, the WTA, or whatever female league we're talking about...is simple. those leagues succeed or not, not because of the skill of the individual female contestants in whatever league we're talking about, but because of the financial subsidization they get (or not) from the MALE counterpart of whatever sport is under discussion.



The only semi-mainstream sports I can think of, where women and men *could* compete on an equal level, would be figure skating or dancing, or other sport where "grace" and "technique" are as valued as athleticism.

Synchronized Swimming? Break Dancing? Dressage?

[Stu from NYC]

The only semi-mainstream sports I can think of, where women and men *could* compete on an equal level, would be figure skating or dancing, or other sport where "grace" and "technique" are as valued as athleticism.

Synchronized Swimming? Break Dancing? Dressage?

Billiards

[BrianL99]

Billiards

There you go! That's another one. They're piling up.

Is Chess a sport?

[mike234]

Exactly!! LPGA is hard to watch. Hardly an fans at their events. WNBA is Caitlin Clark and nobody else really.
yup i totally agree....

[mike234]

Deflecting from bigger issues?
ok i'll bite? what is the bigger issue? inquiring minds like me want to know

[Pugchief]

Billiards

Apparently not:

Ultimate Pool Women's UK (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Ultimate+Pool+Women%27s+Pro+Series+Event&t=brave&ia=web)

[Taltarzac725]

Google LPGA ratings 2025.

[Fastskiguy]

The only semi-mainstream sports I can think of, where women and men *could* compete on an equal level, would be figure skating or dancing, or other sport where "grace" and "technique" are as valued as athleticism.

Synchronized Swimming? Break Dancing? Dressage?

Every year there is a bicycle race across the entire US, a solo, nonstop type event. Some years a women wins outright (beats all of the men) Isa Pulver won the overall in 2023....at over 50 years of age! Race Across America - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_Across_America)

Amanda Coker performed the greatest feat of endurance athletic performance ever seen by riding 86,000 miles in one year Amanda Coker - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Coker)

Țara Dower holds the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail among other fastest hikes Tara Dower - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Dower)

So there are some hard core endurance events where women can win outright. It's a long way from when we thought women's uteruses would fall out if they ran a marathon. Boston, 1967: When marathons were just for men - BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17632029)

And, of course, women physicians have better outcomes then their male counterparts. So, while not sports, there's that. Comparison of Hospital Mortality and Readmission Rates for Medicare Patients Treated by Male vs Female Physicians - PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5558155/)

But golf? I want to see somebody hit it 350 yards! I can hit 250 on a good day myself.

Joe

[Stu from NYC]

Apparently not:

Ultimate Pool Women's UK (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Ultimate+Pool+Women%27s+Pro+Series+Event&t=brave&ia=web)

Bit of a reach but how about beer pong?

[Pugchief]

From today's Babylon Bee:

[Stu from NYC]

It's a long way from when we thought women's uteruses would fall out if they ran a marathon. Boston, 1967: When marathons were just for men - BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17632029)





Joe

Did any fall out? Have to ask dear wife if she knows where hers is.

[MorTech]

Women's sports are just not as exciting...Even female sports fans don't watch.
WNBA is beyond bankrupted. Women's tennis is just an annoying scream fest :)

[jbartle1]

Billiards

Soccer, and paid accordingly along with tennis, I enjoy watching LPGA btw.