I love the LPGA, and I don’t mind saying so.
Now, granted, I’m biased because I worked for the association for six years and had the treat of watching the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak and Lorena Ochoa in their primes, but I may like it even more now. It was tough seeing the association struggle after I left in the fall of 2004, but boy has it ever come back with a vengeance!
Players are competing for more money than ever before, the schedule has been beefed back up and continues to expand, and sponsors are once again flocking to the LPGA like a moth to a flame. It’s been great to see, and to be able to stay connected with the Tour through LPGA.com has been a special treat.
Even though he won’t take it, much of the credit should go to Commissioner Mike Whan, who has the perfect attitude, mentality and vision to lead the association to unforeseen heights. Signing him through 2020 was a huge thing for the Tour, so kudos to the LPGA Board for acting fast and locking Whan in for the foreseeable future.
The men are competing in one of their showcase events this week in Augusta, Ga., but I have to admit I’ve been thinking about the LPGA quite a bit, too. Sunday’s playoff at the ANA Inspiration was spectacular, and it was great to see such a great person and ambassador for the sport, Brittany Lincicome, win her second major.
I loved watching her jump into Poppy’s Pond again. I also loved how Stacy Lewis handled herself after what has to be one of the most disappointing experiences of her budding career.
She made no excuses for herself, was classy and composed and showed the poise that will no doubt lead to many more major titles for her down the road. I love that Lewis is one of the faces of the women’s game these days.
Speaking of love, here are some more things I love about the current Tour:
- I love how amazingly comfortable a 17-year-old Lydia Ko has embraced being the world’s top-ranked player and the immense potential she has for the future;
- I love how happy the players seem, how they make sponsors and VIPs feel welcome in pro-ams and how they always have time to give an autograph or smile for a photo with a kid;
- I love how the Tour honors the founders in Phoenix every year and how much the players respect those who worked tirelessly to form the association they now represent;
- I love how much coverage – and quality coverage – Golf Channel gives the ladies and how the network has become part of the LPGA family;
- I love how great the players are with social media and how they’ve virtually become traveling journalists and PR magnates for themselves and the Tour;
- I love how there are new events and new sponsors seemingly every year and how the Tour continues to grow and evolve;
- I love how the five majors were won by five different players last year and how it’s nearly impossible to predict who will win each week because of the depth of talent;
- I love how global the Tour remains and the fact that the LPGA will visit 14 countries outside the United States in 2015;
- I love how committed the Tour and its players are to charities, the impact they have on others and the fact that they have a desire to give back in such a big way;
- I love how much the LPGA and its constituents promote the game with youngsters and how committed they are to teaching and growing the sport;
- I love how often Whan and LPGA players are routinely implored by residents of U.S. cities all over the country to bring a Tour event to their neck of the woods; and
- I love being able to write about the association and its players on a weekly basis.
It sure is a lot of fun.
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