Opinion & Analysis
3 Reasons you should watch more women’s golf on TV
If you play golf, you probably watch golf on TV, too. For most, that probably means tuning into men’s events, or at least the four major championships.
But I have a question for you: Why do you watch men’s golf?
It’s completely understandable to want to watch the best and most popular golfers in the world. It’s exciting to watch the golfers you know and love, and witness them blasting 300-yard drives. That being said, if you’re looking to improve your own game, I suggest flipping on an LPGA Tour event, at least once in a while. The players are precise, consistent, and dominant in totally different ways — ways that likely look more comparable to your own golf game. Want to know why? Here are three reasons you should pick up the slack when it comes to watching women’s golf.
1) Shotmaking
LPGA Tour courses (based on their average length) require shots similar to the ones played by the average golfer. While impressive, it’s challenging for me to relate to players in the men’s game who hit a 9-iron almost 200 yards. Most of us don’t have that shot in our bag. It’s more beneficial to me, and to most average male golfers, to see how LPGA golfers manage a golf course and the various shots. For instance, most golfers cannot go for the green on par-5 in two from 290 yards, so what yardage are the women laying up to? How are they attacking a 320-yard hole that isn’t drivable for them, or how do they deal with the second shot from 220 yards on a long par-4?
You can learn a lot from LPGA players in how they maneuver around a golf course while hitting the golf ball similar distances that you do.
2) Swing Speeds
With the average swing speed on the PGA Tour being 113 mph with a driver, it’s a pretty tough thing to duplicate – even for the very low-handicapped amateur player. The average swing speed for a 14-handicap male player is around 93 mph, which is almost identical to the average speed of an LPGA Tour player (94 mph). There’s a rhythm and a tempo that comes along with that speed, which the everyday player can identify with. Next time you tune into the LPGA Tour, put a golf club in your hand and mimic their tempo; this may help you smooth out your transition, or learn to slow down altogether!
3) Accuracy
Professional women golfers play the game how most people want to play (or, how most people should try to play). They are unbelievably accurate, rarely hit it out of play and are very consistent. These players will reinforce the lessons amateur golfers receive from their instructors. Every time I turn on coverage, I am amazed by the course management skills of every player. They rarely find themselves in a precarious position. I think every amateur golfer’s game would improve by channeling some of the accuracy of these women. The bomb-and-gouge style of play often seen on the PGA Tour is effective, but only if you have the strength and speed to escape from the rough or other difficult situations that style leads to.
Let’s be clear: This is not to say that the phenomenal talent that you see week-in and week-out on the men’s tour isn’t worth watching – it is. But if you’re a golfer interested in all aspects of the game (and bettering the parts that you struggle with), you should be flipping on women’s golf coverage, as well. If you’ve got a tee time the next day and don’t have time to get or watch a lesson? Watch a few holes of that week’s women’s event. It’s important to absorb information to improve your game. The men may have the daring feats that everyone wants to pull off, but the women have the game that will translate easier to yours. Do yourself, and your game, a favor and check them out.
Opinion & Analysis
Brandel Chamblee PGA Championship Q&A: Rose’s huge McLaren risk, distracted LIV pros and why Aronimink suits the bombers
PGA Championship week is here, and Brandel Chamblee did not hold back in our latest discussion ahead of the season’s second major.
In our 2026 PGA Championship Q&A, golf’s leading analyst made the case that PIF pulling LIV’s funding has left its players competing in a state of confusion, called Justin Rose’s mid-season equipment switch a huge risk at 45, and explained why Aronimink will be a bombers’ delight this week.
Check out the full Q&A below.
Gianni: With the PIF confirming that they’re pulling funding from LIV at the end of the season, what impact do you expect that to have on the LIV players competing at the PGA Championship?
Brandel: I would imagine that they have all been thrown into a state of confusion, and will be distracted, not knowing where they are going to play next year and not knowing exactly their road back to either the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour. Or in Rahm’s case, being tied to a sinking ship for the next few years, likely playing for pennies on the dollar in events that no one cares about or watches.
I doubt this would put him in the best frame of mind to compete at his highest level. Keeping in mind, however, that majors are the only time that LIV disciples get to play in events that matter, so never disregard the motivation they have to prove to the world they are still relevant.
Gianni: Justin Rose switched to McLaren Golf equipment mid-season while playing some of the best golf of his career. What do you make of the change?
Brandel: I don’t really know what to make of Rose switching equipment. It seems a huge risk on his part, even though it is likely, in my opinion, that the clubs he’s playing are similar, if not the exact grinds, to what he was playing previously, with a McLaren stamp on them.
Having said that, at best, it is a distraction when he seemed to be as dialed in with his game as any 45-year-old could be and trending in the majors to perhaps do something that would definitely put him in the Hall of Fame. At worst, given the possibility that these clubs aren’t just duplicates of his old set stamped with McLaren on them, he’s made an equipment change that would take time, and 45-year-old athletes don’t have the time to do such things.
Gianni: Aronimink has only hosted a handful of professional events since it hosted the 1962 PGA Championship. What kind of test does it present, and does a course with less recent major championship history tend to level the playing field?
Brandel: Even though Aronimink has only hosted a handful of meaningful professional events, it has been fairly discerning in who can win there. When Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship on the Donald Ross masterpiece in 2018, he was the 2nd best iron player on tour coming into that week. When Nick Watney won the AT&T at Aronimink in 2011, he was 2nd in strokes gained total coming into the week.
In 2020, Aronimink hosted the KPMG Championship, and Sei Young Kim won. On the LPGA that year, she was first in greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation, and scoring average on the way to being the LPGA player of the year. And then there is the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, who eventually became just one of a few players to win the career grand slam on the way to winning 9 majors. It is a formidable test, and if it’s not softened by rain, it will bring out the best in the upper echelons of the game.
Gianni: Is there a specific hole at Aronimink that you think will do the most to decide the winner?
Brandel: The hardest hole at Aronimink in each of the three tour events that have been played there since 2010 has been the long par-3 8th hole, with the par-4 10th being the second hardest, so most of the carnage will happen around the turn, but with the par-5 16th offering opportunities for bold plays and the tough closing holes at 17 and 18, the finish is likely to be frenetic.
Gianni: The PGA Championship has always sat in the shadow of the other majors. What does the ideal PGA Championship look like in your eyes, and what would it take for it to carve out its own identity?
Brandel: The PGA Championship, to whatever degree it suffers from the comparison to the other three majors, is still counted just as much when adding them up at the end of one’s career. Almost 1/3 of Nicklaus’ major wins were the five PGA Championships he won. Walter Hagen won 11 majors, five of which were PGA Championships.
Tiger Woods twice in his career won back-to-back PGA Championships, and those four majors count just as much as the other 11 he won. The PGA may not have the prestige of the other three, but it carries the same weight. Having said that, I preferred the identity that it had as the last major of the year.
Gianni: You nailed your Masters picks. Rory won, Scottie finished solo second, and Morikawa surged to a tie for seventh. Who are your top 3 picks for the PGA Championship and why?
Brandel: I am not a huge fan of majors played on golf courses that have been shorn of most of the trees, although I understand some of the agronomic reasons for doing so and of course the ease with which it allows members to play after errant drives. However, at the highest level, it all but eliminates any strategy off the tee and turns professional golf into an even bigger slugfest. That means that it will likely be a bomber’s delight this week, but fortunately, Scottie Scheffler is long enough to play that game and straight enough to play it better than anyone else.
The major championships give us very few surprises anymore, going back to the beginning of 2012, so the last 57 majors played, the average world rank of the winners has been better than 15th in the world. So look at the highest ranked and longest drivers who are on form coming into the PGA Championship who also have great short games as the surrounds at Aronimink are very challenging. That’s Scottie Scheffler by a mile and then McIlroy and Cameron Young with a far bigger nod towards DeChambeau than I gave him at the Masters.
In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this is one you will want to hear about.
We also take a look at some of the putters in play on the PGA Tour last week. From familiar favorites to a few surprising setups, there is always something to learn from what the best players in the world are rolling with under pressure.
To wrap things up, I walk through the process of building a set of JP Golf Prime irons paired with Baddazz Gold Series shafts. From component selection to performance goals, this is a deep dive into what goes into creating a unique custom set and why this combo has been so intriguing.
This year my 50th birthday. Gosh, where has the time gone?
As a teenager in rural Missouri, some of my junior high and high school years felt interminable. Graduation seemed light years away. But the older I get, the faster life seems to fly by.
I’m also increasingly aware of my mortality. My dad died recently. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow PGA of America professional and I were texting about our next catch-up. The next message I received was news of his unexpected passing at 48. Shortly after, a woman I dated in college succumbed to cancer at 51.
Certainly, one can share perspective at any age. Seniors help freshmen, veterans guide rookies. But reaching this milestone feels like as good a time as any to do one of those “what would I tell my younger self?” articles.
I’ve had a uniquely varied career in golf. I started as a 27-year-old, average-length-hitting, 14-handicap computer engineer and somehow managed to turn pro before running out of money, constantly bootstrapping my way forward. I’ve won qualifiers and set venue records in the World Long Drive Championships, finished fifth at the Speedgolf World Championships, coached all skill levels as a PGA of America professional, built industry-leading swing speed training programs for Swing Man Golf, helped advance the single-length iron market with Sterling Irons®, caddied on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and played about 300 courses across 32 countries.
It’s been a ride, and I’ve gone both deep and wide.
So while I can consult and advise from a lot of angles, let me keep it to a few things I’d tell the average golfer who wants to improve.
1. Think About What You Want
Everyone has their own reason for picking up a golf club.
Oddly, as a professional athlete, I’m not internally driven by competition. That can be challenging, as the industry currently prioritizes and incentivizes competition over the love of the game.
For me, I love walking and being outdoors. Nature helps balance my energy. I prefer courses that are integrated into the natural beauty of their surroundings. I’m comfortable practicing alone. I’m a deep thinker, and I genuinely enjoy investigating the game, using data and intuition to unearth unique, often innovative insights. I’m fortunate to be strong and athletic, so I appreciate the chance to engage with my abilities. Traveling feels adventurous. I could go on.
You don’t have to overthink it like I do. For you, it might be as simple as hitting balls to escape work, hanging out with friends, and playing loosely with the rules and the score.
The point is to give yourself permission to play for your own reasons, and let that be enough.
But if improvement is your goal, thinking about your destination—and when you want to get there—is important, because it dictates the steps you need to take. When I set out to go from a 14-handicap to the PGA TOUR as quickly as possible, the steps I needed were very different from those of a working golfer trying to break 90 in six months. That’s also different from someone who just wants a few peaceful hours outside each week, away from work or family.
None of these goals are better than the others, but each requires a different plan that you can work backward from.
2. There Are Lots of Things That Can Work
One of the challenges of golf is that, although there are rules for playing, there aren’t clear, industry-wide standards for how to best play the game. There’s a lot of gray area.
You might hear a top coach or trainer insist that a certain move is the best way to swing or train. Then you dig a bit deeper and, much to your confusion and frustration, another respected coach or trainer says something completely different. I don’t think anyone is trying to confuse you—at least I hope not. It’s just where the industry is right now.
You have to be careful with advice from tournament pros, too. They might be great at scoring, but they’re also human and sometimes just as susceptible as amateurs to believing things that don’t really move the needle. Tour players might describe what they feel, but that’s not always what they’re actually doing when assessed with technology.
I recently ran a test on my YouTube channel (which connects to my GolfWRX article “How to use your hands in the golf swing for power and accuracy”), and, interestingly, two of the most commonly taught hand actions produced the worst results in the test.
Coaches can certainly help. If you find someone you connect with to help navigate, that’s great. But there are many ways to get the ball in the hole. In the current landscape, you may need to seek multiple opinions, think critically, and use your own intuition to discern what seems true and whose advice resonates with you.
I’d recommend seeking someone who is open-minded and always learning, because things constantly change. Absolutes like “correct” or “proper” should raise a red flag. AI can be useful, but it tends to confidently repeat popular advice, so proceed with caution.
3. Get Custom Fit
If you’re serious about becoming a better player, getting custom fit is hugely important. There’s no sense fighting your equipment if you don’t have to. Most better players get fit these days and, if they don’t, they’re usually skilled enough to work around clubs that aren’t ideal.
If you plan to play for a long time, it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get something that truly fits you and your game, rather than continually buying and discarding equipment.
Equipment rules haven’t really changed significantly since the early 2000s. To stay in business, manufacturers keep pushing those limits. If you pull a bunch of clubs and balls off the rack and test them, you’ll find differences. I’ve tested two new drivers and seen a 30-yard total distance gap. Usually, the issue isn’t bad equipment; it’s that the combination of components simply isn’t the best fit.
It’s like wearing a new pair of floppy clown shoes. Sure, they’re shoes—but you won’t sprint your best in them compared to track shoes that fit perfectly.
Be wary of what’s called custom fitting, too. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing strategy rather than an actual fitting. In some retail settings, fitters may be incentivized to steer you toward higher-priced components. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s not the best fit, but you should be aware of potential biases.
I learned a version of this lesson outside of golf. Years ago, I bought a tennis racquet at a big box store from a seemingly knowledgeable employee who thought it would suit me best. The racquet gave me tennis elbow, and I spent months recovering with rest and acupuncture. The next season, I invested more time and money to find what actually fit me, and I walked away with something amazing that I still play with years later.
So if you’re going to get fit, be smart about it.
Find someone you believe has deep knowledge—possibly with certifications, but not necessarily. Make sure there’s a wide inventory across many brands. Check recent reviews for the individual fitter if possible. Make sure you trust that the fitter has your best interests at heart. If they’re wearing a hat or shirt with a specific brand’s logo, proceed with caution. Unless you specifically want a certain brand or look, be wary of upsells, especially if two options perform nearly the same.
Also, while golf is called a sport of integrity, there’s a thread of manipulation in the industry. I once drafted an equipment article for an industry magazine, structured just like one of their previous popular stories, with matching word count and great photos. The assistant editor loved it; it was useful to readers and required little work on his part. But the editor-in-chief nixed the story. When I asked why, I was told it was because I wasn’t an advertiser. It turned out the article I’d modeled mine after was a paid ad cleverly disguised as editorial content.
I really dislike games, clickbait, and fear-based manipulation. I hope this changes, but golfers deserve to know it exists.
4. Distance and Strategy Matter
There’s a real relationship between how far you hit the ball and your scoring average, even at the PGA TOUR level.
I experienced this early in my pro career. I started as a power hitter, swinging in the high 120s and breaking 200 mph ball speed with a stock driver.
Back then, some instructors advised swinging at 80%, so I tried slowing down for more accuracy. That worked fine on shorter, tighter courses. But on longer setups, I was coming into greens with too much club, and par 5s stopped being
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Randy Wall
Jan 29, 2018 at 4:33 pm
I enjoy watching the women play as much as the men. I think they play courses smarter, and have helped me to have good golf IQ.
Tim
Nov 12, 2022 at 11:07 am
The coverage is SO much better!!!!!
Stephen Finley
Jan 9, 2018 at 12:27 am
Male tour players don’t actually hit the ball “almost 200 yards with a 9-iron.” Nowhere near it under normal conditions. Check USGA numbers for average 5-iron length on tour.
Aside from that, there are more reasons than “they’re a scaled-down version of the men’s tour, and the scaling down allows lower-quality players to relate to them and model their games after them.” In fact, I’d say that’s not even true. Anywhere near the top of the women’s game you’re going to see women hitting it 260-270 and up, often 300 or more when conditions are right. It’s unbelievable how far they hit it now, often within a club or club and a half of the guys. And the skill level is just way, _way_ ahead of where it was when I was a kid. It used to be that on the rare LPGA event you saw televised, you might see a couple of shots close to the pin all day. Maybe four or five. Today, it’s not unusual at all to see a three-player group with three shots by the hole, or two out of three. You’ll see more shots tight in half an hour now than you used to see in an entire round of coverage 20 or 30 years ago, more in one tournament than you used to see all year.
As for having 290 to the green on a par-5, I’ve actually seen more than a couple of women pull _that_ off. Might take slightly favorable conditions, but the days of making a living on the LPGA tour driving it 240 and hitting 210-yard 3-woods, trying to keep it around par with a tidy short game, etc., are way over.
I’m not disparaging the women in previous generations — there have always been great players out there — but the strength and speed now, and the level of play, is just incredible. The PGA Tour is always talking about how it’s the “greatest generation ever” (not even close) and how “these guys are good” (they are, but not as insanely perfect as they’re marketed to be), but it’s the _women_ who have made the biggest strides.
JD
Jan 7, 2018 at 10:15 pm
If you can tell the difference between a 350 yard drive and 250 through your t.v., you’re probably in the wrong line of work. Women’s golf looks exactly the same on t.v. and I definitely enjoy watching it so long as the coverage is good.
CrashTestDummy
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:03 pm
The women on the LPGA are so good. I think a lot of people don’t realize how good they are. They are shooting in the 60s regularly at pretty tough tracks.
Try shooting under par at any of your tough local tracks with total yardage of 6000-6700 yards. Not many can say that they can do that.
Bruce Ferguson
Jan 4, 2018 at 11:08 am
I have to wonder how LPGA events are covered in the Asian television markets, because in recent years, there has been such a dominance of Asian tour players. I know at least on KBS (the Korean television channel I occasionally watched through a former satellite provider), they made a big deal of LPGA golf tournament results in their sports segments. There seems to be keen public interest in women’s golf.
I hope that The Golf Channel and network television would commit to providing more LPGA content to expose the game to more American women, and thereby increase overall viewership. There are enough empty voids in Golf Channels line-up as it is. Instead of running Tin Cup and Bagger Vance re-runs hundreds of times, why not run women’s golf features, like exclusive interviews, or a show featuring a female “Feherty” (Christina Kim comes to mind)?
BigSculpin
Jan 3, 2018 at 12:53 pm
I would love to watch more LPGA golf but I would have to get the GOLF Channel to do so.
Stephen Finley
Jan 9, 2018 at 12:33 am
Yeah, that’s a shame. They deserve a wider audience, with the level of play today.
Mike
Jan 23, 2018 at 8:14 pm
I have the golf channel & would love to watch more women’s golf. They really don’t show much.
Nick Nack
Dec 30, 2017 at 6:46 pm
The 4th reason:
Women’s golf needs more viewers because no one is interested.
Kirk Dunn
Dec 27, 2017 at 11:34 pm
Way way ahead of you….been doing this fir qyite awhile….they play same ydg courses as most of us do too
steve2
Dec 30, 2017 at 4:50 pm
…. and I can think of another additional 3 reasons to watch more women’s golf on TV.
Mike Eovino
Dec 20, 2017 at 9:26 pm
Liz – You nailed it. As the father of two female junior golfers (and big Lexi Thompson fans), we watch plenty of LPGA golf. They’re a lot better than I am from the tees I play from.
Klaus
Dec 25, 2017 at 1:41 am
…. and you won’t see a LPGA player pregnant 6 months and trying to swing a golf club…. but I see plenty of men with pot bellies pregnant with fat trying to play golf. It’s hideous and pathetic.
peter
Dec 25, 2017 at 1:42 pm
…. ouch!
Stephen Finley
Jan 9, 2018 at 12:32 am
Where are you seeing “plenty of men with pot bellies” playing professional golf at approximately the same ages as the women?
Luke keefner
Dec 20, 2017 at 5:15 pm
I like watching LPGA events but our tv coverage sucks in the USA. To many commercials, too many talking heads to many “special stories” to plow through. It’s as if the networks think golf isn’t exciting enough so they have to pump it up somehow. Like baseball. I prefer watching the European tour, I can’t pronounce many of the names, but the coverage is all about the golf, and you can tell the announcers love and play the game. And I don’t have to hear about what college the players went to and how HUGE of a fan they are of there college football teams. Over and over and over. I don’t care!
Luke keefner
Dec 20, 2017 at 5:17 pm
Correction “ their college football teams”. Sorry
peter
Dec 25, 2017 at 1:45 pm
I mute my tv when watching golf, tennis, basketball, soccer, and football. It’s amazing how much better it is without the sound of screaming fans and nonsensical commentary. I can see what is happening without distractions…. and when the commercial comes on I stand up and stretch for flexibility.
Bert
Dec 26, 2017 at 6:14 pm
Judy Rankin and er talking points are a huge distraction in addition to the excessive babbling by others.
Larry Schmidt
Dec 20, 2017 at 3:08 pm
I would love to watch the ladies play this great game but when 95% of all womens golf is only on the golf channel and only the majors on national TV it’s kind of hard to watch. If you want to grow the game then get the game on national television.
Joro
Dec 20, 2017 at 2:12 pm
My ex Daughter in Law caddied for years on the tour for Faldo, Stenson, and others and when asked she caddied for Michelle Wie in a few events. After caddying for Wie she said that men should be watching the women more because it is more realistic to most men in distance, management, and swings. She said the men are too unrealistic to be watching the big hits and long irons and play the game they can’t.
Great article.
Peter Douglas
Dec 21, 2017 at 7:36 am
Her name wouldn’t happen to be Fannie would it?
Razor
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:53 pm
Great article and rings true. I’m sure the younger golfers think this article is totally wrong. They just love smashing the ball. I’m in my 50’s and out drive most of the 25-35 year olds in the club. I’ve always said watch the LPGA they are great players and like your article states. More close to an average golfers swing speed and distance. Played in a KPMG Major Pro Am and ALL the girls were super friendly and totally respected the amateur golfer. One even gave me her range spot! Yes. They are easy on the eyes. But they have game and can totally kick our butts. They are good. Please watch and learn how to shoot lower scores.
peter
Dec 25, 2017 at 1:47 pm
What do you “watch” when looking at LPGA players? Be specific.
bonifacj
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:46 pm
Don’t watch a lot of golf, but love watching LPGA pros swing. In large measure, swing tempos just gorgeous. Similar to watching Els swing.
stevek
Dec 20, 2017 at 1:49 pm
I occasionally like to watch LPGA players to study how they develop their kinetic energy chain from the ground up to their shoulder torque rotation.
Their swings are very smooth and slower than the men’s swings but it’s easier to see their legs, hips and shoulder rotation mechanics… because the women wear shorts and skirts that expose their leg and hip action.
Most don’t wear baggy pants like the men so it’s easier to see their kinetic chain developing. The ladies come in different shapes and sizes so it’s interesting to see how they manage their swing mechanics.
Skip
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:34 pm
I watch the LPGA, but my 170mph driver ball speed doesn’t really translate well to their games. Still, can really appreciate the level of skill.
DougE
Jan 27, 2018 at 8:53 am
Not sure I understand. What about the part of the game where you have to get the ball in the hole? All the swing speed in the world doesn’t do that. This game is about accuracy so much more than it is about distance, at least in my opinion. Sure distances helps, but it is not the be all end all. I’m guessing you don’t hit 100% of your fairways and greens with all that distance and speed, so how can you not relate to playing like the women do around the greens, and on approach shots for that matter. I don’t get your logic. No disrespect meant.
Taylor
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Women golfers are outstanding players. But they play like robots, there’s no excitement or fist pumps or any emotion.
Dave Freeman
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:07 pm
I agree Liz. When watching women’s golf, I have always been impressed with how good their swings are. They seem to move the way instructional videos teach you to move.
Chris
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:59 am
Are you kidding?? Who watches women’s golf for the golf??
Jack Nash
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:49 am
I watch to count how many caddies line up a supposed Pro. I also enjoy using my sun dial to time the decision making process before an actual shot is hit. There’s Maybe 15 females worth watching on the LPGA that have a game. Other than that it’s just a fashion show.
frank cichon
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:47 am
I try to watch the LPGA. It is TOO SLOW! The odd time when the camera picks them up running from a tee box…it makes me laugh. Why not enforce the rules and save 30-45 minutes per round. Regarding the article…..I do not recall seeing ( in this century) any LPGA player hitting a 200 yard second shot to any par 4 (is possible if she mishit her drive) Again life is too short to spend watching the LPGA. Hope Santa brings me a new PVR as I wore mine out watching golf on TV
Bert
Dec 26, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Very slow play!
Big Wally
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:45 am
The women do not hit it closer and their short games are not nearly as good as the men and their putting is not as good.
I tune in but it is like watching paint dry. The are slow and humorless.
Marc
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:42 am
Liz:
I volunteer at an LPGA event every year. My assignment is the range. The range is like getting a backstage pass to rock concert. I see everything. Even though there are women on the LPGA tour who are very long, there is also many players who hit drives less than 250 yards. The difference is their wedge play. It’s uncanny how good they are from 125 yards and in. And the reason they are so good is that they PRACTICE! They practice for hours and hit hundreds of balls. And they are extremely nice to the fans.
Brenden Grant
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:40 am
Hey all: Great article Liz spot on. I’ve been saying for years That GolfWRX should do more LPGA witb and not just from tournament winners since their bag setups just like the way they play a course is more like how most amateurs play. Thanks…????????????????
fran
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:38 am
Great article ! I would watch the LPGA more if they showed the analytics and visual track and trace data that is shown for the PGA players. It`s a little boring listening to the announcers when the visual data is so much more compelling and informative.
Gregory M Haney
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:38 am
I am an avid fan of the LPGA and have been to many of their tournaments both overseas and in the USA. Having said that I have numerous complaints. First the TV coverage is less than ideal ( I am being kind here!) as are a few of the announcers. I would like to watch some golf with a few commercials in between instead of Watching so many commercials with a little golf in between!! Here is what I often see; three putts, one swing, go to commercial. Two putts two swings and go to commercial. A number of the tournaments are so bad with this that I turn it off. And most of the coverage is just about putting. With certain announcers, I hit the mute every time they speak. I won’t go into names but some of the announcers should have been gone a long, long time ago. Kudos to Kay Cockerill and Karen Stupples and a few others.
I have measured several tournaments. Most all of the time the distances are not what their score card is showing, i.e they are shorter on many holes.
In many of the tournaments I have been to, there is often a long gap between the next group, in other words you can sit on a hole and there is no one in sight for some time.
Yes, the PGA is guilty of many of the same things. I was just watching a rerun of the HSBC Champions from China this past October. In the 4th round, it took 2:45 minutes to play 9 holes!!! And that is with a two some or three some. No lost balls, no lengthy rulings, some wind. Pro golfers who smoke it long and very straight for the most part. 2:45 for 9 holes is insane!! I know the PGA issued its’ first penalty this past season since when was it, 1999!!!!!
I know the coverage of the LPGA does not have as many cameras as for the PGA, but I would like to see more of the other golfers as well instead of watching the leaders do 18″ tap ins!!!!!!
So, my summary is that if you want better exposure and more people to watch, IMPROVE THE TV COVERAGE (and announcers). Many other male watchers that I speak to about this absolutely agree with me. I met Mike Whan several years ago, twice at tournaments in Asia and would sure like to share my thoughts with him :-).
Gord
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:37 am
I tell my friends all time – if you want to improve, watch the LPGA. Watch them in slow motion to see how a 100lb woman can hit the ball 260yds – straight. Most men that I play with can’t do that – me included!
Rob
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:19 am
Liz, this article is spot on. Well done!!
Alphonso Dubachette
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:09 am
Great article Liz! I couldn’t agree more that as amateurs we all should watch the LPGA and how they use course management. My wife has asked me why I watch the women play, and I’ve given her the same answer. Realistically they play similar to us so I like to see what yardages they’re playing and clubs they use. Of course I watch the PGA, but if I could hit my 7-iron 200yds+ I wouldn’t be a 12.5 handicap. This was probably one the best and most relevant articles I’ve read in a long time.
CB
Dec 20, 2017 at 10:28 am
This article is absolutely true. Sure I watch the PGA, who doesnt. But the LPGA (and champions IMO) are better to watch if you are trying to learn and take something away. The precision is amazing.
Nice writeup.
Rene
Dec 20, 2017 at 9:15 am
FInally! I can convince my wife that I watch the LPGA because of their game, not their long legs and short skirts! 😀
BB
Dec 20, 2017 at 8:00 am
Awesome write up. Best one to me.
Peter Douglas
Dec 20, 2017 at 4:26 am
I think they dumb it down to much. Watch the clubs they hit most of the time!
LPGA stands for (Lob Wedge, Pitching Wedge, Gap Wedge….all day)!
Some very good players but pace of play is tedious.
Jack Gallagher
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:26 pm
Good point Peter Douglas, if you mean the tournament organizers being the ones who dumb it down. Regardless of gender, they shouldn’t set up any course with par fours that are reachable with a driver and a wedge (of any variety) with the exception of the drive-able par four holes.
Skip
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:31 pm
LPGA, lol good one.
TA
Dec 20, 2017 at 3:39 am
T, A, & L, right?
t
Dec 20, 2017 at 1:50 am
reason #1 need a nap
Reason #2 need a second nap
Reason #3 need a third nap
The dude
Dec 19, 2017 at 9:41 pm
Good article….something that is known, but worth reinforcing
Davemac
Dec 19, 2017 at 8:45 pm
Slow play is the bane of professional golf, the game is almost unwatchable. Unfortunately the ladies are ever SLOWER than the men!
The sooner they ban caddies from lining a player up along with the huge green reading books the better.
Talented yes, more relevant yes, watchable no.
Bruce Ferguson
Dec 19, 2017 at 7:50 pm
Agree on all three points. I wish that more LPGA events were broadcast . . . not only because I can relate more to their swing speed and distance, but to expose golf to more women. I think women who know very little about the game assume it’s “a man’s game”.
Scott
Dec 19, 2017 at 6:59 pm
Totally agree and I’ve said your comments for years. LPGA players hit distance more in line with me. They’re shot making is amazing. Don’t get me wrong, watching the men on PGA hit a 350 yd is impressive but I’ll never do that. I walked the course one day during us open at trump and was amazed the distance and shot making I was seeing. Lexi crushed a drive I thought the cover came off the ball. Tremendous article.
james
Dec 19, 2017 at 6:19 pm
You refer a lot to you…..Who is you, as this article is being read by many different people.
The dude
Dec 19, 2017 at 9:38 pm
The average golfer you dolt!…..
David Alan Cheever
Dec 19, 2017 at 5:40 pm
I agree completely. I can relate so much more to how the ladies hit it. I went to an LPGA event once and was amazed how 80% of them landed their tee shots in an area the size of a blanket. well, almost, but damn.
Watching the men is dull, frankly. Same swing on all of them. 9 million yard drives. yawn..
SK
Dec 19, 2017 at 5:38 pm
I love to watch the ladies swing, particularly if they are wearing shorts or skirts and I can see their bare legs and their hip action going into their shoulder rotation.
I’m not being sexist, I’m just saying that the male golfers are fully clothed and it’s difficult to analyze their leg and hip action under their pant legs.
The golfswing kinetic energy chain starts at the feet and legs, and then into hip and shoulder rotation. This is where most of the ‘power’ is generated from the mass momentum of large body parts.
Lady pros come in many sizes and shapes and their ability to swing a golf club is openly revealed if you can see the body unencumbered by baggy clothing. It’s good viewing if you know what to look for in the golfswing kinetic energy chain.
Jonathan
Dec 19, 2017 at 4:40 pm
I agree with all your points. If given the choice between LPGA and Champions Tour I always watch LPGA. Competition is typically very tight on LPGA, which makes it enjoyable to watch.
MRC
Dec 19, 2017 at 4:15 pm
Well said Liz. I watch LPGA events all the time. Rhythm and tempo is something I struggle with…..No better way to improve than to watch the LPGA.
Rob
Dec 19, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Watching a few holes however, will take you about 3 hours as the pace of play is an embarrassment… and caddies lining players up! What is that. Otherwise, lpga/let tours are brilliant.
Jim
Dec 19, 2017 at 3:48 pm
This is a fantastic article and i couldn’t agree more about the women’s game. They have similar carry distances to men but are just phenomenal in every aspect of the game. I really enjoy watching them but my only gripe is that the LPGA plays course way too short. They “say” they play at 6500 yards but never do and they always play them super firm and fast and seem to be hitting wedges all day outside of the par three. These women are talented, let them hit some longer clubs!
ChristopherKee
Dec 19, 2017 at 5:06 pm
I agree here. Ariya Jutanugarn plays an iron off the tee 99% of the time. She doesn’t even have a driver in her bag. I know golf shouldn’t be about “distance” but it shouldn’t be about just wedges either.
Andrew Pavlov
Dec 20, 2017 at 10:12 am
Golf is about getting the ball in the hole in the least number of strokes possible period and nothing else. Whatever clubs someone uses to do so are the right ones.
ChristopherKee
Dec 20, 2017 at 11:51 am
You’re correct. And I don’t care if they use a putter from tee to green to be honest, it would probably be entertaining to watch. My observation of the club used off the tee by Ariya was to the challenge, or lack of, some of the girls have off the tee on the course.
I feel a lot of them are way better than the tour is showcasing. I would prefer the easier courses to be a bit longer to challenge some of the more capable players. It’s the same thing I like to see on the men’s tour.
These are the best of the best women in golf, I would just like to see them really challenged.
Jack Gallagher
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:34 pm
If that were true, Andrew Pavlov, then there is every justification to play courses that are only 5,500 yards in length for the men, and 4,500 yards in length for the women. It would have an audience of one – Andrew Pavlov.
MacAllan
Dec 19, 2017 at 3:36 pm
I’m a Swe golfer with hcp 5 and I have said this to my golf friends a long time ago, we have more to learn from LPGA than the PGA Tour.