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.
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
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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.