The LPGA just outsourced its season.Twenty-four events are on next year's incredibly shrinking LPGA schedule and 11 of them will be played on foreign soil, including the season opener in Thailand.
There also are tournaments in Singapore, France, Japan, England, Canada and Mexico.
One bonus: The U.S. Women's Open stays here.
Founded in 1950, the LPGA is the longest continuous-running professional women's sports organization in American history, but its future -- obituary? -- will be written in foreign dialect. Why? Because if selling women's golf in the land of the free and home of the NFL seemed difficult before, the LPGA hasn't seen nothing yet.
More coverage: 2010 LPGA Schedule
Let's see now. The LPGA has no American stars (one win by Michelle Wie does not qualify), no network television and now almost half its schedule in other countries.
What can possibly hold it back?
What's sad is how easy it is to argue the LPGA didn't have much choice.
In 2008 the LPGA schedule had 34 tournaments. This year started with 31 events but ended with only 27 when four title sponsors bailed in mid-schedule.
This would be a good time to point out that only four LPGA winners during this season that ends Sunday at the Tour Championship in Houston are Americans.
From there it was only getting worse. The combination of a woeful economy and self-inflicted wounds left behind by former commissioner Carolyn Bivens had sent potential title sponsors running. As recently as last month players acknowledged rumors suggesting as few as 17 tournaments for 2010.
"That's a part-time job,'' said veteran Nancy Scranton.
The solution, however, is the epitome of one step forward and two steps back. It's a short-term solution with long-term peril.
If the LPGA can't attract sponsorships and a following in the U.S., then acting commissioner Marty Evans' thinking was to go where it can. The LPGA's roster includes more than 130 foreign players. Sixteen of the top 20 ranked players in the current women's world rankings are non-Americans.
"I'm all in favor of a more global expansion of the tour because that's where the demand is today," Annika Sorenstam, the headliner of women's golf until retiring before this season, said recently. "I'm all about trying to grow our tour and create awareness.
"Hey, let's just grow globally. That way we are going to raise the profile of the players, the product and what we have to offer."
Somewhere somebody will be watching.
They just won't be on the LPGA's home turf.
And that's the rub.
If Tiger swears when he hits a ball into the forest, but no one is around to hear, did he make a noise? If the LPGA plays a tournament and America doesn't know it, do its young girls grow up wanting to one day play the tour?
"As far as globally growing the game, it does," University of Florida women's golf coach Jan Dowling said of the new schedule. "But if we are also trying to grow women's golf in the United States, the exposure is going to be less.
"As far as the economy goes, that's something they had to do. So the women have to look at it as at least we have a place to play. But we want to grow it domestically more than anything."
This would be a good time to point out that only four LPGA winners during this season that ends Sunday at the Tour Championship in Houston are Americans. Until Wie won last Sunday, foreign players had claimed 16 straight events.
If things start to go down from here for American women, it's a good thing the tour will be in China because they'll be popping out on the other side of the world.
And another thing. Even if you want to, following the LPGA next year isn't going to be easy.
Between the season opener Feb. 18-21 in Thailand and the LPGA Tour Championship in November, there are 17 off-weeks.
The first tournament in the United States will not come until March 25-28 in Carlsbad, Calif., the third stop (and fourth week) of the season. A week later in nearby Rancho Mirage, is the Kraft Nabisco, the season's first major.
Perfect. From there it's a short drive to Mexico.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
It's the economy...its hit every profession---even the worlds oldest profession. Instead of doing their business at their ususal 'downtown' locations, they have had to branch out to 'uptown, 'east side' and lets not forget the 'west side' too. On the brigh side-- its a great time to look for a bargain...just like the LPGA sponsors.
The problem simply put is that the LPGA is basically a Korean show case. The average golf fan cannot relate to other nationalities that cannot even speak English. No one cares of Jing Ki Jim or Koni Kim wins a tournament. Plus, my impression of the American women golfers is that they come across as petty and aloof.
Very simple, they don't have a product to exploit, way too many foreign gals on the LPGA Tour, and like all women sports they just don't appeal to women, really , most women didn't support Hillary or even Palin.
Outsource them to China like everything else.
Cmon guys & ladies - the name of the game is "Golf" - I didn't hear this crap when Els or Vjay dominated the PGA tour - If the "best" players are Korean so be it, because they are not American has nothing to do with it - they are the best right now. So drop the xenophobia and get real. Just think - maybe it's a reflection of the way America and its people are measuring up to the rest of the people in the world these days.
The world stage is now their only stage. 24 events is a part-time tour when you beGIN US play in March. Where are the foreign sponsors with the bucks now? Where will the US women (especially the new players)have the expense money to tour internationally? Seems to me that the LPGA needs to seriously consider piggy-backing on PGA events, especially in smaller markets. Good play by non-English speaking Asians will not sell. The tour needs first class marketing, colorful players and events and a reason for spectators to attend. Maybe an event including the LPGA and the top NCAA players?
colorfull? marketing? let the gals play in bikinis
It's not just the economy,watching the LPGA is such a yawn,next year they will have 17 tourneys.