The Chevron Championship began with an unusual event. The LPGA brought together the most influential leaders in golf to discuss how to advance women’s golf. The inaugural Commission at The Chevron Championship, Houston, included PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. Golf Association CEO Mike Whan.
Mollie Marcoux-Samaan, LPGA commissioner, said: “At the majors (men’s), the industry gathers in different forms.” “We felt it was important to get people to attend an LPGA event,” said Mollie Marcoux Samaan.
Marcoux Samaan, Executive Vice President of Content and Executive Producer for NBC Universal and Golf Channel Molly Solomon and former KPMG chair John Veihmayer were also present. Molly Solomon was executive vice president and executive producer of NBC Universal Golf Channel and NBC Universal, John Veihmayer, former KPMG chairman and LPGA Board Chair and Dottie pepper were also present.
The panelists were Olympic gold medalist Angela Ruggiero and Danette Leighton CEO of Women’s Sports Foundation, as well as Angel City Football Club’s CRO Jess Smith.
Marcoux Samaan said that the main goal of his team was to educate women. “Let’s be clear about where we are now, where we have been, and where we’re heading, as well as where women’s sport is going in general. “And then really to think innovative ways to look at women’s sport and the LPGA.”
Marcoux Samaan stated that the impact of LPGA’s traveling schedule was one of the topics which most surprised many people in the room. Organisers shared an image from Golf.com’s Claire Rogers, which showed how players travel around the world and across the country in a head-spinning manner.
Trying to wrap my head around the @LPGA travel schedule pic.twitter.com/gfTYuwoENA
— claire Rogers (@kclairerogers 17 January 2023
Marcoux Samaan said that the LPGA schedule is different from men’s leagues.
When we increase the demand for our women and the awareness of their abilities, we will be able to dictate the schedule more.
Marcoux Samaan is convinced that the PGA Tour’s shared resources around technology, like ShotLink for data management and scoring, could have an immediate impact on women’s golf.
Marcoux Samaan stated that the event was a great conversation opener for a variety of topics.
The morning session was followed by the Chevron Championship Pro-Am. Marcoux Samaan, Monahan, and Nelly Korda played on The Club at Carlton Woods’ front nine with Marcoux Samaan, Monahan, and Nelly Korda.
Stacy Lewis played only two holes on the back nine with Monahan before he was forced to return to Florida due to family obligations. Lewis was impressed with how well prepared and involved Monahan was in their brief time together.
Lewis said on Wednesday, “I believe he understands that they have to do more.” He told me that yesterday several times. It’s now a question of whether we can move forward and do something about it.
Lewis said she wanted to see the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour combine for an event where the top men and woman play together in full-field tournaments with separate leaderboards, separate purses and two courses on a single site.
She said, “Imagine Lydia Ko and Rory McIlroy walking together down the 18th-hole,” How cool would it be?
Korda hinted the same thing to Monahan. She also noted that the unofficial Grant Thornton Invitational later this year , which features LPGA Tour and PGA Tour players partnered up together, is a positive step.
Korda said, “They are such a large platform.” “I think that combining the two is the best way to grow this game,” said Korda.
“Girls Golf is growing at a phenomenal rate and they also see this.”
