This week, Bronte Law calls for elite women’s golf tournaments to run alongside men’s, citing tennis as the perfect example of equality in sport. Here’s what we think.
Linn Grant’s win at last weekend's co-sanctioned DP World Tour and LET event shoved women’s golf into the spotlight in spectacular fashion. And it was a shining example of how the women’s game can beneficially work in tandem with men’s golf.
Now English professional golfer Bronte Law is calling for men’s and women’s golf tournaments to be staged side by side.
Ahead of the Aramco Team Series, Law, 27, said: “The perfect example is tennis. Why do the women get paid more than we do? The reason is because they play on the same site, and they get the same media coverage.
“So if we can play at the same course, get the same TV coverage, there’s no reason why our purses can’t increase.”
She raises a good point. More TV and media coverage mean more eyes on the game and more sponsorship opportunities. In theory, it would have the power to really raise the profile of women’s golf.
And we do see it in other sports. Tennis, athletics, boxing ... men and women compete – in their own tournaments – at the same time and at the same venue.
But whilst I’m all for boosting women’s sports in any way we can, could it really work in the world of golf?
Let’s talk logistics
OK … let’s strip it back.
In any tournament field, there are usually upwards of 120 players, competing over four days.
Combine the men and women and you have more then 200 players trying to get round the same golf course. Forget about whether you’d actually be able to get that number of golfers around the course in day light – what about the hours and hours (and hours) it would all take?
So the only option is to choose a 36-hole venue or two 18-hole courses close to each other, and have the fields switch courses halfway through the tournament.
Logistically a nightmare and with double the amount of planning, infrastructure and cost, is that really a feasible option?
Not really.
So, what could work in women's golf?
We know that one of the biggest factors that deters people from playing, watching and staying in golf is time.
I’m a professional golfer and I love the game. But why don’t I play as much as I want to? Time. Why will you very rarely find me watching much more than the last hour of a tournament on the TV? Time. And why do I sometimes go months without playing? Time.
I’m all for keeping the traditions of the game – they’re what make golf the sport it is – but we also need to see some shorter formats, shorter tournaments and something that really keeps everyone’s attention, even if you’re not a golfer.
It’s a formula that worked with The Hundred last year; an action-packed 100 ball cricket tournament. With DJs hosting each team it was an exciting format that we’d never seen before. And everyone was welcome.
And that’s what I think we need to emulate in women’s golf.
Make tournaments cool. Make them fun. Get them trending on social media.
Set up bars, have live music and make them really social places .
And make sure that anyone who isn’t there really wants to be at the next one.
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