Courtesy of Pixabay
There was some irony in Lexi Thompson’s victory Sunday in the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship.
First, this year alone on the LPGA Tour, 17 events — 10 on U.S. soil — have been won by Koreans and Lydia Ko, a New Zealander who was born in Seoul and lived there until she was 12.
Second, nowhere in the U.S. except perhaps at the U.S. Open did fans display the kind of crazy enthusiasm the KEB-HanaBank crowds carried with them.
Thompson: “I would say this is more of a major feel coming over here, with how big the crowds are and how the golf courses are set up, the grandstands. Just the whole feel of it; this is like a major championship over here for our Asia Swing. So it’s an amazing feeling to play this big of a field for a tournament and just to play in front of that many people. That’s what we love, to play in front of that many people and hear all those cheers.”
And finally, most golf fans in the U.S. missed seeing all the excitement because the live televised rounds ended in the wee hours.
Internationally, women’s golf is big. In the U.S., not so much. With that, please give your best answer in the one-question, one-answer golf poll. And if we missed a better answer, please add it in the comments below.
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I enjoy watching competitive women’s golf, whether it’s the LPGA or amateur tournaments. I admit that my game improves whenever I’m smart enough to emulate their swing tempo and allow the club to do the work! I have volunteered for a number of USGA women’s championships, and am looking forward to marshaling at the 2016 Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club in Washington State. (Volunteering at the US Open continues to pay dividends!)
As for the influx and success of Asian women on the LPGA Tour, I’m all for it. Just like European and Asian pros have expanded the appeal of the PGA Tour, golf benefits when it is truly an international sport. Just look at the popularity of Women’s Soccer, and the competiveness of our US Women’s National Team; by playing against the best golfers in the world, our US golfers are forced to improve their level of play…and the game of golf continues to grow by leaps and bounds. That’s a great outcome, in my humble duffer’s opinion!
Love watching the LPGA tour on TV! If coverage is on during the wee hours, I just DVR it! I am looking forward to being a spectator at the Legends Tour in Delray Beach, FL next week! #thisgirlgolfs
Thanks for the comment Joy! Also, we applaud recent efforts to improve pace of play on both tours.
I love watching the LPGA and volunteering for their events. These ladies are amazingly talented and so personable. It’s rare to get one that doesn’t interact with the crowds. It’s unfortunate that their events are not televised more often. Golf channel is the only place to find them and I think it would really grow the game if mainstream cable carried day 3 & 4 of their tournaments like they do with the PGA. The LPGA slogan of “come see why it’s different out here” is so true. I volunteer for PGA events as well and the LPGA is far more fun and the players for more accessible. Keep up the great work ladies!