I know that most comparisons of professional sports and leagues are not relevant, but when it comes to professional golf, the disparity between men's and women's purses is striking. (Forget each tour's argument about revenue and attendance. It didn't work for women's soccer.)
Going into U.S. Open weekend, Scottie Scheffler won five times and more than $24 million in prize money. Assuming a caddie fee of 10 percent for wins and a sliding scale based on non-winning finishes, that would mean Scheffler's caddie, Ted Scott, has earned more than $2 million so far in 2024.
Nelly Korda, who has a record-tying five consecutive wins and won six times in a seven-tournament stretch, has earned $2.9 million this year. Yuka Saso won the U.S. Women’s Open and the largest winning share in the history of women's golf. She has earned $2.6 million.
Scheffler's caddie would be the third-leading money winner on the LPGA Tour.
So, how do you fix the LPGA? Outside investors? Many of its final rounds are tape-delayed in favor of PGA Tour Champions. At the recent U.S. Women’s Open, there were three Americans who finished in the top 40. Nelly Korda is the best in the world right now, but she doesn't have the desire to be the face of the LPGA Tour. Lexi Thompson couldn't handle that, either, so she walked away.
College programs have become a training ground for foreign players rather than developing American players.
The PGA Tour solved its money problems with outside investors.
Who in their right mind would invest in the LPGA product?
Charlie Jurgonis
Fairfax, Virginia
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