LPGA recent events – Good or Bad??
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posted by Ladies on the Tee The main purpose of Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog presented by Sherry Tabb is to help women embrace the game of golf in greater numbers. The mission is to develop a community of women that will share their experiences, their ideas, their successes and their overall passion for the game of golf. |
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Top Athletes Bare it All
This week there have been two events in LPGA-land that have the potential of tipping the scale of public opinion in terms of being helpful or hurtful.
First up, ESPN the Magazine releases its Body issue, a Celebration of the Athletic Form, featuring a number of male and female athletes in the ‘semi-buff’ and ‘buff’ (cleverly posed to conceal certain body parts). Three LPGA members were included in this issue: Christina Kim, Sandra Gal and Anna Grzebien.
The photos that I have seen online prior to the Body Issue release are tastefully done and do exhibit the beauty of the athletic body. Quite a few sports are represented, including baseball players, a female fighter, a tennis pro, a surfer, some of the US Women’s Softball team (including a pregnant one) and somewhat obscure sports like Sumo wrestling and table tennis in addition to the LPGA golfers.
The question is how this issue is received in the minds of the public, i.e.the fans of these sports. Will there be fallout over this from those who fail to see the beauty of the photos OR will this be taken in a positive way to ‘show another side’ (no pun intended) of these athletes and the work they put in to excel in their respective sports?
Perhaps an even bigger question will be “Will the women be perceived differently than their male counterparts in terms of the public reaction?” You know, that sexist thing that rears it’s ugly head time and again! We shall see very soon…the magazine hits the newstands tomorrow.
LPGA Adds Surprise Candidate for Commissioner
On a totally different subject but one that has some serious consequences for the LPGA is the recent addition of a new ‘surprise candidate for the LPGA Commish’ search. Jonathan Ward, a senior adviser at Kohlberg & Co, an investment firm was announced as a possible finalist along with U.S. Golf Association chief business officer Peter Bevacqua.
The issue at hand here is that Ward, like the ousted former LPGA Commissioner, Carolyn Bivens, has no golf experience or professional sports experience. He does not have the ‘ideal experience’ as defined by the headhunting firm Spencer Stuart, also responsible for bringing Ms. Bivens to the LPGA.
Are we seeing a ‘deja vu all over again”? Granted there were interviews with Mr. Ward that seemingly impressed the search committee but what happened to their mantra of seeking the best ‘golf insider’ for the position? Perhaps Ward does bring the right package to the table. From the outside it appears that the search committee is not 100% sure of the background they feel will be the best fit.
The bottom line is that there is no room for error here. I do applaud the LPGA search committee for taking their time on the selection for Commissioner as it was first rumored the decision would be made by early October. Now it is suggested that it will be in November. Let’s just hope that the person selected has what it takes to move the LPGA forward. There is no going backward! Where is that crystal ball when you need it???
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