The LPGA blew a golden opportunity to grow their fan base at the VOE Texas Shootout thanks to an embarressingly slow play-off between Cristie Kerr and Haru Namura.
We can often be heard stating that all the ladies game needs to grow is the opportunity for greater exposure.
That opportunity was served up on a golden platter at the weekend, as the sport stations switched over from the storm delayed PGA event in New Orleans, to the action at the LPGA’s VOE Texas Shootout.
One of the most well-known players on tour, reeling in a leader who had at one point in the round held a five-shot lead. An amateur playing the final group. A clutch putt on the last to ensure a play-off.
On paper the tournament had all the ingredients necessary to acquire a new band of fans.
Unfortunately, if you look at social media as a guide, many of those potential viewers won’t be tuning in again.
For those who didn’t watch the action on Sunday evening, Haru Namura had defied extremely windy conditions to build a substantial lead going into the back nine, and as her competitors dropped shot after shot the Japanese player appeared to have the tournament sewn up.
Only the feisty Cristie Kerr remained in the hunt, and after Namura recorded four bogeys and a double bogey over the closing stretch, the players were tied at the top of the leaderboard come the close of play.
Cue one of the most monotonous and excruciatingly slow play-offs ever to have been televised.
The problems started with the hole itself, which must undoubtedly be the poorest designed closing hole on the LPGA Tour. This may not have been an issue if the players had merely had to play it the one time. Unfortunately, due to LPGA policy, which requires a play-off to be contested solely over the eighteenth hole, and five consecutive pars by both golfers, by the time Namura finally played a magic approach shot at the sixth timing of asking, the only viewers who remained tuned into the event appeared to have been those who had fallen asleep in their armchairs.
The tedium of the play-off, which lasted over two hours, may have been limited to the format, if not for the painfully slow play of Cristie Kerr, who appeared at times to be deliberately moving at snails’ pace, as she backed off her ball time after time, and engaged in lengthy discussions with her caddie over almost every shot.
She took to twitter yesterday to apologise to the fans:
‘’Sorry everyone for the slow play yesterday the conditions were incredibly tough and that 18th hole is very difficult. Very tricky w 40mph. Both players took a lot of time by the way and that's all I'm going to say about that hope everybody remains a fan of the LPGA.’’
The players must be exonerated at least in part because of the weather conditions. With the gusts causing the balls to move on the greens, and players stepping away from their shots, the play had been slow throughout the day, as even the top players carded embarrassingly high scores (Inbee Park was among a large group of players who failed to break 80).
Unfortunately, after the Lexi Thompson rules farce at the ANA Inspiration more negative publicity was exactly what the Tour didn’t need. Hopefully next time the LPGA gets a chance to grow its audience it won’t turn into another missed opportunity.
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