WINTER HAVEN (Fla.) — Jody Brothers noticed a line outside the Epson Tour’s Season-Opening Event in Winter Haven and jumped inside to help. The new Chief Business and Operations Officer of the tour, who is a self-described golf geek, began working on golf courses before he was legally able to drive. He figured that stripping grips would make it easier for everyone and give him an insight into what works best on a larger scale. Only a few times a season, an equipment trailer is onsite at the LPGA’s official qualifying tour.
Brothers stated, “I want the right thing to do on our tour week-in and week-out.” “Is this a trailer that I need sponsors to fund so they can come out here 22 weeks per year?” Is there another way to partner with a Golf Galaxy, PGA Superstore, or someone with multiple locations across the country that our athletes could have access?
Brothers was carrying a notebook with him at the Florida Natural Charity Classic to record his thoughts and concerns when he met new players. Brothers was even a first-tee starter, an idea/dare from the Player Advisory Group. This too came naturally.
Kim Kaufman, a veteran player who has won three Epson Tours, said that Kaufman is “hands-on.” “Super easy to communicate with.”
Kaufman, along with Daniela Iacobelli (four-time Epson Tour winner), is a member the PAG. She said that she was able to see Brothers’ enthusiasm when they held their first PAG Zoom call.
Brothers, 53, is a former Vice President of Business Development at the PGA Tour. He came to the Epson Tour with a total of 16 years experience.
Why did women’s golf become a priority? Brothers stated that he would have to interview at least nine people at the LPGA before asking this question.
Brothers stated, “It’s not about Mollie’s job, or any other job at LPGA.” “This is the job that I want, and it’s my legacy.”
Brotheres was clearly referring to Mollie Marcoux Samaan, LPGA commissioner. Brothers is a member of the LPGA Executive Leadership Team in his Epson Tour role.
Brothers has a sister that played college golf, and a wife who plays. Brothers felt that he could make a real difference in this next chapter of his life by being at a place where he could. Brothers brings to the Epson Tour a list of contacts – both for sponsorships and club management. This should result in results.
Brothers said that a lot of companies were saying they wanted to invest in professional golf. They began with the men’s, but then said that they needed to do something for the women’s. It was very encouraging. That was what got me thinking about a career in the LPGA.
Brothers is determined to increase purses on the Epson tour. This season’s record-setting total prize pool of $4.41million and an average purse of $210,000 make Brothers a formidable target. This is a significant increase from the $1.6 million achieved ten years ago.
Brothers said that he plans to attend every event this season and that the prize fund goal is too early to reveal, but that it’s significantly higher than what women currently play for.
He stated that he believes the number of events we host is appropriate to identify the top 10 tour players. They need to play for more money. This is my mission.”
The purse for the Korn Ferry tour’s first event, which will begin later in the month, will be $1,000,000 to put things into perspective. KFT is, naturally, one step below PGA Tour. This is also the same as Epson relative to the LPGA.
The purse for the Florida’s Natural Classic was $220,000
Brothers was formerly the Senior Director for Tournament Business Affairs on Korn Ferry Tour. He also plans to reduce the cost of competing each week, whether it’s in entry fees, hotel costs or insurance. The tour had announced that Epson would pay for yardage books for each week, and would also cover Q-Series entry fees for those who finished Nos. The Official Money List lists 11-35. The LPGA cards are awarded to the top 10 players. The Rules of Golf have been updated for 2023. Players must purchase new yardage books approved by the Epson Tour Rules Committee.
Kenzie Wright, a former Alabama player, noted that she spent $16,826 in entry fees and yardage books in January 2022. Epson reduced entry fees by $500 per week to $450 last year. Brothers would like to have enough partners to lower entry fees to $250.
*I am not looking for sympathy, I know that this is a choice*. I spent $16,826.47 just on entry fees and yardage book in 2022
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— Kenzie Wright (@kenziewgolf) January 31, 2023
Brothers said, “These are the small things we can do to make it easier as tour administrators.” “I want them to be here long enough to realize that dream.”
Brothers knows from personal experience what it is like to try to make it big. Brothers was a college golfer at Cal State Chico and played on the Dakotas Tour professionally in the 90s. Brothers was shocked when he saw that two of his teammates shot 29 and 28 on the back nine in a tournament. He realized that a career as a professional golfer might not be for him.
However, he was able to see how small things, such as free yardage books, really add up. Brothers recalls how grateful he felt to the local A&W owner who wrote “free” on his business card after a proverbial am. Brothers could use that card for the rest of the week at A&W to get anything he wanted on his house.
Iacobelli said that he had been through the process of not being able to afford a decent meal. Or a meal.
Brothers, now as the leader of Epson Tour, is ready for a fresh kind of grind.
