Starting from left: Yealimi Noh, Lauren Coughlin and Nelly Korda.
Michael Schwartz
Women’s sports have never been more popular. Flip the tube at night and you’ll be sure to be given an epic performance by some of the world’s top female athletes. Caitlin Clark. Coco Goff. Simone bile. Mikaela Shiffrin. Everyone has become a household name – not only in women’s sports, but also in sports in general – it is a must-watch TV when they compete.
In the world of golf, LPGA has the following vision for suits. Not that it hasn’t been worthy of the sports center for decades. Nancy Lopez, Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sörenstam, Se Ri Pak – These extraordinary athletes (and many more) portray her name in the history of the game and provide searing lesson moments and memories. Over her 47-year career, Texas legend Kathy Whitworth has won more than (88) than professional golfers of any gender (including Jack and Tiger). So the trip was more than just solid ground. But LPGA has regained its popularity in the recent wave of women’s sports boom. Yes.
Once a domestic tour with (mostly) native heroes, the league has turned into a vibrant international league that now attracts athletes from all corners of the world, provides a stage for the world’s greatest female golfers and offers greater payments to support their talents.
“This tour is completely different from the 2016 rookie,” said Gaby Lopez, a 10th-year professional in Mexico. “I’ve seen players from different countries and cultures playing now.”
In 2025 (Season 75 of LPGA) – Schedule is played in 14 states and 12 countries in the United States, including two Asian swings and one in Europe. Among the crowd composition of the tour, people’s commitment to mainland competition has been promised as players from over 40 different countries see themselves as members.
“I think [diversity] This is what makes us sell so.
Its international appeals have undoubtedly helped LPGA Garner expand its investment from those that reduce checks: partners and sponsors. The $131 million prizes snapped up this season represent the largest total wallet in Tour history.
This economic boom comes in a pleasant moment, with the Tour describing some of the smartest young stars in the game as members. Yealimi Noh and Alexa Pano have won championships in the past calendar years, each without celebrating her 24th birthday. Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul has won 17 professional players (including four LPGA victories) at the age of 22, Rookie of the Year honors, two separate tours, a scoring championship, and finished on the LPGA currency list. Outstanding Stanford student and 2020 American amateur champion Rose Zhang won her first LPGA outing: the 2023 Michi National America Open. The top ten Rolex world golf rankings include veterans such as Lydia Ko, Lilia Vu and Charley Hull, but it also proved that youth sports, five-time LPGA champion Ruoning Yin, 22, and last year’s Evian Championship Ayaka Ayaka Furue, 24.
“When I was a rookie, I knew I needed to step up the game to compete here,” said Hannah Green, 28. “But there are a lot of first-time winners lately and it seems that anyone has won.”
OK, most of the time. Nelly Korda makes the golf world question this narrative. There is no more star power in the game than a two-time Grand Slam champion, and in 2024, she showed us why. In that breakthrough sport, the 26-year-old won an astonishing seven times on her way to the Player of the Year honors, and she currently wins the Rolex rankings. Corda’s heaters are not only on the golf course. Outside the ropes, she walked the red carpet at the Metropolitan Gala and posed for SI’s latest swimsuit issues.
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Photography by Zephyr Melton and Michael Schwartz
That was something really pleasant. The same goes for the venue. Women now take classes that used to host only men. In recent years, LPGA has stopped in some of the game’s greatest cathedrals, including Pebble Beach, Congress, Balton Slore, Canosti, and St Andrews.
“The most interesting thing I have on the golf course is in St. Andrews,” said three-time champion Jennifer Kupcho. “Just go to the great places we have been to, the golf course we played for the Grand Slam is really exciting. It’s great to be a part of the history of these places.”
Leona Maguire of Ireland agreed: “In terms of venues, I hope we continue to improve the tour. It may not be possible to reach the same level as a men’s tour, but it will be a big gap.”
Events like the Grant Thornton Invitational are playing their part. Now founded in 2023, the current tournament is paired with members of the men’s team on the PGA Tour. It not only helped showcase some of the biggest stars in the women’s game, but also introduced them to a new group of fans.
“In terms of popularity and the number of people interested, I think women’s golf has ever been golf. But there is a lot of room to grow and continue to get better,” said Sarah Schmelzel, 30.
If this trip wants to capitalize on that potential, it still has challenges. Recently left commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan left the organization after a polarized term. Although she did succeed in improving her wallet, attracting new sponsors and deepening the match schedule, she is also an effective communicator in the eyes of both the public and the match members.
“It’s not great in a hot second,” admits 9th grade professional angel Yoon. “But I think our players did express that and the board took action.”
Marcoux Samaan’s successor has not been named, but this has not prevented members from dreaming of what the next commissioner might achieve.
Yealimi Noh looked around and saw the opportunity: “I’m watching In full swingeven TGL stuff. Why are women not part of it? ”
Ausie Gabriela Ruffels, who now competes in the second season on the LPGA Tour, imagines the sport has the broad and balanced appeal of the professional tennis tour.
“In a sense, it’s a cool spectacle for fans. It’s a great time to be a female professional golfer who just went up. Maybe compete for tennis.”
For those in power, the upward space for this trip seems to be unlimited. Established matches are in place. Sponsorship is flowing. Superstars exist. Talk about a good time.
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor at Golf.com, where he spent his days of blogging, making and editing. He participated in the University of Texas before joining the golf team, before stopping for the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists with all mentoring, covering amateur and women’s golf. He can be contacted at zephyr_melton@golf.com.
