Cultural Asymmetry on the LPGA's Asian Swing

The LPGA is in the midst of its Asian Swing. Last week's inaugural Grand China Air LPGA led off the three-tournament run with Helen Alfredsson taking home the trophy. This week brings the lady golfers to South Korea and the LPGA Hana Bank-KOLON Championship, to be followed by the Mizuno Classic in Japan.

While the reverberations of Carolyn Bivens ill-fated "Korean players must speak serviceable English" edict still echoes through women's golf, American players are being welcomed and celebrated in South Korea and the other Asian stops. The official tournament website of the Hana Bank-KOLON Championship lists the "main players" in the 69-player field as: Suzann Pettersen (defending champion and No. 4 n the Rolex ranking), Paula Creamer (No. 5), Natalie Gulbis (No. 36), Morgan Pressel (No. 15) and Se Ri Pak (misspelled "Park," no less, at No. 29). That's one Norwegian golfer (Pettersen), three Americans and one South Korean.

But also in the field are Helen Alfredsson (Swedish, ranked 7th after last week's victory), Ji-Yai Shin (Korean, No. 8), Seon Hwa Lee (Korean, No. 10), Eun-Hee Ji (Korean, No. 16 and runner-up in this tournament last year), and Inbee Park (Korean, No. 18), who won this year's U.S. Women's Open and about whom I waxed poetic. 

You could say the biggest oversight (read: snub) on the "main players" marquee is Ji-Yai Shin, who is the top player on the KLPGA and No. 8 in the world rankings. It's odd, if not quite stunning, that she wouldn't be on such a list. She also won the 2008 RICOH Women's British Open, becoming the first non-LPGA Tour member to win a major tournament since Laura Davies captured the 1987 U.S. Women's Open.

In China there was more national balance, but still, Morgan Pressel's being singled out for an opening ceremony photo-op with China's Shanshan Feng hitting golf balls off the wing of a jet can only be considered ultra-high regard for Ms. Pressel. Maybe blondes do have more fun. Or maybe it's her iconic Ralph Lauren-designed golfwear.

Certainly that could be one reason she gets so much attention in Japan. Pressel graces the cover of August's We Love Golf (朕 恋仲 golf) magazine in Japan. While the fashion- and label-conscious Japanese most definitely appreciate style in conjunction with substance, the 10-page, 43-picture feature bordered on the excessive. Yes, 43 photos (okay...31 were swing analysis, but still.)

So while all this love is flowing for the American ladies of the LPGA in Asia, here, the die-hard golf fans and writers who actually appreciate women's golf -- not necessarily those who run it -- don't even get to watch these tournaments on television. I'll repeat myself. Yes, believe it or not, these end-of-year tournaments, which are still critical to several 2008 LPGA accolades, aren't even televised in the States.  

I could try to explain the economics of the golf business and the dynamics of local sponsorships that pay for these tournaments -- and in the process bore you to death -- but the fact that there is still no "Golf Channel" coverage is a sad state of affairs. American athletes who are at the top of their games and celebrated worldwide cannot be enjoyed by their fans in this country. While the LPGA deserves credit for recognizing the marketability of its players in foreign markets, even debuting its tour in China this year, three weeks of no televised women's golf would be another indication of the LPGA's substandard advancement on the broadcast rights front. -- Rico Williams

Comments

[golfgirl]

You are so right...and it is unbelievable!

One can barely even get any news on these Asian tournaments...never mind TV coverage. Then again, it's so rare to ever see any young women (women under retirement age) on US golf courses. If there are (almost) no young women playing recreational golf it certainly presents a challenge to developing a fan base. The majority of men just like to watch big hitters. The finesse is lost on them. Media coverage of the LPGA really tends to focus on A)a scandal or mistep B)Michelle Wie (but she's keeping a low profile lately) or C) the latest sexy calendar or photo shoot.

So media coverage will continue to be elusive. Which is a shame for those of us who do appreciate the women's game.

[The Constructivist]

Don't wait for the golf media to catch up. Follow Hound Dog's updates at his LPGA blog or mine at Mostly Harmless. Seoul Sisters.com discussion threads are always interesting, full of pictures, and sometimes even with links to web feeds of Asian TV channels.

[realwomengolf]

First, these womens' events need to be covered. Second, they need to be presented "PGA-style." Usually, womens' golf television coverage is visually grainy and unbelievably dull. However, these golf champions are amazing women who deserve their share of the spotlight. There are younger women playing the game, and I know many of them are enjoying "The Big Break," and "Highway 18." My daughter loves both, as do I. Enthusiasm for womens' golf is there, but the television coverage needs a massive revamp.

I watched, I mean listened to, womens' golf after eye surgery. I couldn't see a thing, but I still listened to the coverage. If I wasn't such an insane golf fan it surely would have put me to sleep.