PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- In any other era of women's golf this thing called the Legends Tour would most likely be viewed as just another overly optimistic venture that would be last seen going nowhere.After all, if the LPGA, inarguably the best women golfers in the world, can't excite the masses, what are the chances a senior circuit of age 45 and older has-beens can make itself interesting?
This, however, is like no other time in women's golf.
Last week the LPGA announced almost half of its 24-event 2010 schedule will be played outside the United States. On the heels of that news, Anna Nordqvist, a talented golfer, who unfortunately, needs a photo ID to be recognized outside a family reunion, won the LPGA Tour Championship played in Houston.
Meanwhile, as this was all taking place, the likes of Pat Bradley, Joanne Carner, Jan Stephenson, Betsy King and Patty Sheehan were at Tampa Bay's Innisbrook Resort for the Legends Tour Open and a step back in time.
"If someone put a gun to your head and said, 'quick, name some women golfers,' there's a much better chance you would come up with these players," said Doug Schmidt, director of golf sales at the Innisbrook Resort, which also is site of the PGA Tour's Transitions Championship played in March. "These are the names that golf fans know."
"It's kind of sad, all the work we did as players and to see it kind of tumble. I remember when we had 45 events. Now they're going to have 24 and most aren't even full field."
- Colleen Walker That's what tour organizers are banking on.
The Legends Tour was established in 2000 under the name Women's Senior Tour and has operated with an extremely limited schedule, players originally putting up $5,000 of their own money to build a purse.
Now, as the LPGA commits to a global schedule, leaving behind old tour stops like Corning, N.Y., Phoenix, Ariz., and Hershey, Pa., the Legends has sponsor money and sees itself as a timely and logical replacement for golf-hungry communities.
Legends events are 36 holes. The tournament purse at Innisbrook was $300,000 with winner Sherri Steinhauer (above) collecting $50,000 -- pro golf on a budget.
"Where LPGA tournaments have been lost, they may want to throw a little two-day tournament with a pro-am that can raise some money for their local charities," said Dawn Coe-Jones, a three-time winner on the LPGA. "We may benefit from some of the events the LPGA has lost. Look at Corning. We were there 30 years and all of a sudden, we're not.
"And we are not out here bunting it 175 yards. We can still play."
Legends players insist they are not in competition with the LPGA, but admit current LPGA woes are what is opening the door for a women's senior circuit to grow.
Stephenson, the LPGA's one-time glamour girl, caused an uproar several years ago with a comment about a large number of Korean players not speaking English being a hindrance to selling the game.
Now, the LPGA was forced to go out of the country to fill up next year's schedule.
"I was in trouble then, but now everybody comes up and pats me on the back and says 'you saw it coming,' " Stepenson said. "I was just trying to help. It just came out badly."
Colleen Walker, a nine-time winner on the LPGA, understands and also has concern for future of the women's tour.
"It's kind of sad, all the work we did as players and to see it kind of tumble," she said. "I remember when we had 45 events. Now they're going to have 24 and most aren't even full field."
The Legends know they are a niche product, but they are just as certain the niche is there.
"Our audience is our peers," Nancy Scranton said. "But the people who grew up watching us are the ones who go to golf tournaments anyway. It's not the 20-somethings. It's the mid-40s and older. And they are like, 'wow, I can get right up next to Pat Bradley or Patty Sheehan or Jan Stephenson and everybody is happy to chat.' "
It's not an unknown phenomenon.
Before the Tiger Woods era arrived on the PGA Tour, the complaint was the regular tour didn't have the appeal of the Senior Tour that was fueled by names like Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino.
Until the LPGA finds a player to be its Tiger, the Legends' strength will have the strength of familiarity.
"I don't want to bad-mouth the LPGA," Scranton said. "But we are more recognizable. And fans can relate to us more."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
50 is the youngest age on the Seniors unless things have changed.
My mistake. They are talking about the Senior ladies. Hell yes I'd watch Jan Stephenson instead of younger tail. I'm tired of waiting for See Ri Pak to bare her footsies again, lol.
Looks like the American players better learn to speak Korean..
Throw Inkster in there and they could just call it the "lesbians" tour as opposed to the "legends". Aside from Jan,of course.
Proving once again that the American male is a complete and unmitigated idiot...thanks George for your insightful comments...no one cares about your homophobic views so if you are not going to speak with any level of wisdom on the subject of golf in general and women's golf in particular please keep your totally uncalled for opinions to yourself...and BTW don't give me the crap about freedom of speech...your remarks are not real speech!
If Tiger is playing, I watch the PGA but, DVR the LPGA. If Tiger is not playing, why watch the PGA at all?, I watch the LPGA. The women of LPGA hit the ball a ton and and are more interesting to observe than the nobodys' in the PGA's "who's Dat guy? timeslot.....Are there lots of Gay women on the LPGA tour? who knows? and who cares?...A few of the women on the tour have "movie star" good looks. And, some have great websites. Check em out and let us hope the LPGA Television coverage increases with the current young guns. There is room for the "legends", I just prefer the new crop of Lady golfers. Good luck to all!!
I am glad and supportive of the LPGA's Legends Tour. However, I think it is a shame that more than half of the 2010 tour schedule is outside of the US. Granted, it is one thing to promote the LPGA in other countries, but I think it is also excessive to have over half of the events elsewhere instead of within its founding country. Also, it is old and homophobic to always get mentions of Lesbians instead of Ladies when regarding the sport. Grow up. What someone's sexual orientation is, or suspected of, has absolutely nothing to do with their golf talent and playing ability. Btw, Julie Inkster is married to a man and has daughters. I am sure that she could outplay you (George) even if she let you play from the "ladies tees." She is truly one of the best and my favorite golfers to watch. I've also met her during an event, where she was very kind and generous in giving me an autograph and photo. I just wish that the LPGA would reconsider and recognize the contributions and dedication that Dinah Shore had always given towards promoting the LPGA and put her name back above Kraft's Nabisco, where it truly belongs. In comparison, Bob Hope's name is still attached to his tournament that is sponsored by Chrysler, and he's sadly been deceased like Dinah.
The LPGA is a much better viewing venue than the PGA and you don't see the nclub throwing and don't hear the vulgar mouths of players such as Woods.