Kid's got game! Wouldn't a Lexi - Yani rivalry be great for the LPGA Tour (although I think Yani would dominate)?
Swing Sequence: Teen Sensation Alexis Thompson: Golf Digest
Swing Sequence: Teen Sensation Alexis Thompson: Golf Digest
Lexi Thompson
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natep
New
I watched her hit balls on the range at the Women's US Open this year. She was the longest of anybody else I saw, and very accurate. She would hit 20-30 balls at each target green and didnt start missing any until she was hitting at the green about 215 out. She was driving it almost 300 I'd say.
tbarbertab
New
It would be great to see her bring it home tomorrow...
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
It wouldnt do a thing for ratings....IMO
I don't quite get what you're saying. You don't think the tour's biggest problem (besides the weak economy) is the fact that it's dominated by foreign players who tend to have trouble speaking English? If an American phenom like Lexi winning a lot of tournaments wouldn't help then what would?
P.S.: Yes, I recognize that it would help if Lexi were more physically attractive but still.....
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
Not at all, the LPGAs biggest problem is the L. It doesnt matter where they are from. KJ Choi and Ryo Ishikawa and Jumbo Ozaki, etc were are and were big stars when they played here. It doesnt matter what they do.
Richie3Jack
New
I think the sexuality had something to do with that as well. I don't care, but I do believe sponsors and other viewers have a problem with it.
The women's tennis tour does quite well and that is the model I would follow for the LPGA.
3JACK
On sexuality, the country's views have rapidly become more tolerant over time. Yet the LPGA Tour doesn't seem to have become more popular over that same time period. Not sure the sexuality issue is as huge as y'all make it out to be.
Tough side topic here, but imo the discussion was about the tour in general, not Lexi. Anyway, back in the late 90's a friend of mine was close with some the businesses that sponsored PGA Tour events and they wouldn't touch the LPGA due to the L issue. If the product is horrible and they don't want to say that was the reason, why would they bother blaming this other factor? So I agree with other people regarding the importance of this factor for the reticence of potential sponsors.
In my own mind, it was a little uncomfortable to have some Top 10 players converting the straight ones. Also the tour run daycare for the adopted kids of L couples is also a bit unnerving; I'm not sure why the tour "bragged on this" with publicity, but I guess parts of the organization are proud to meet the needs of players. Not sure I know the right thing, but nonetheless sponsors are thus basically paying for all kinds of things they may not want to be.
I figure until they get a Tiger Woods equivalent, they will go along as they are.
In my own mind, it was a little uncomfortable to have some Top 10 players converting the straight ones. Also the tour run daycare for the adopted kids of L couples is also a bit unnerving; I'm not sure why the tour "bragged on this" with publicity, but I guess parts of the organization are proud to meet the needs of players. Not sure I know the right thing, but nonetheless sponsors are thus basically paying for all kinds of things they may not want to be.
I figure until they get a Tiger Woods equivalent, they will go along as they are.
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mgranato
New
If I'm not mistaken, the women only play a couple events a year with the men (the majors and couple others). But they play in countries all over the world, which represent their market and membership. If they played the heavy majority of there events here in the States, it would be dying on the vine as well.
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
Not if they dont think its a good investment.
mgranato
New
Sponsors want to project their product above anything. The LPGA doesn't draw enough eyeballs, tolerant or otherwise.
The problem might be they are in direct competition with a far superior product in the same market. It's like saying, "Why isn't RC Cola doing better with their fresh new looking can?
dschultz6072
New
This is what the LPGA is missing:
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