A (crazy?) idea for LPGA promotion
One of my many reactions to closely following the LPGA this week — besides a basic awe for how good the women pros are from 120 yards in — is that the LPGA needs to figure out better ways promote itself and its golfers. Women's golf should be at least as big as women's tennis, especially right now when (as I will detail in future posts) there are so many compelling story lines.
As I brainstorming about possible promotion ideas for the LPGA, one (crazy?) idea came to mind: Perhaps an LPGA event should consider pulling a "reverse Wie" by giving a sponsor's exemption to a man.
Inviting Tiger to tee it up with the women would generate huge PR. Same goes for inviting Vijay or Phil or Ernie. Other possible invites could be the reigning men's US Amateur champion, or the money leader on the Nationwide Tour, or even Jack and Arnie.
The golf press (and the entire sports media) would likely be intrigued simply by the offer of an LPGA sponsor's exemption to a man; the story would only grow if (when?) the offer gets turned down by men unwilling to tee it up with the women.
Of course, giving a sponsor's exemption to a man would be something of a stunt, but it is a stunt that not only could generate PR, but also could help demonstrate how good the LPGA pros are. After watching the women shoot in the mid-60s all week at Tartan Fields, I am convinced only a handful of men could keep up with all the LPGA pros if everyone is playing from the women's tees (which greatly reduces the significance of men's ability to hit the ball longer).
3 Comments:
Hey, I like the idea of inviting a man to play. It would end up being him versus the entire LPGA.
But the ladies don't usually play "from the women's tees," they usually play a combination of blues and tips, so their courses are usually around 6,500 yards long.
I think that just about every regular on the PGA Tour could keep up with the women. If a guy had a terrible off-week, he'd probably still make the cut, and someone like Tiger - even with his C game - would have no problems winning, and winning by a large margin.
It's a PR stunt that could fail miserably if the guy played well and beat all or a large majority of the women.
Besides, "PGA Tour" has no gender in it. "LPGA Tour" does. Exemptions don't work that way.
Erik, though I agree most PGA pros could keep up with the women, I am not sure the PR value is lost even if the man ends up with a top 10 finish.
First, to have finished inthe top 10 at the Wendy's, a guy would have had to post four straight 68s. Even on a relatively easy course, a guy has to be playing well to post four consecutive rounds in the 60s (especially since, as anon notes, the women are playing courses at 6500 yards).
Second, after Annika's showing a few year ago, everyone assumes (perhaps rightly) that the very best woman cannot even make a cut when playing with the men. So, in terms of PR realities, a man beating a lot of the women would likely only confirm what people already think. But if he did not come close to winning (or, better yet, if he was close and there was big drama for 4 days), then the LPGA gets a big PR payoff.
Of course, this would be a very risky PR stunt, but I think one worth at least some consideration.
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