First equal pay LPGA event getting the cold shoulder from players

(Disclaimer: This is not intended to be a debate on equal pay. We already have plenty of those threads. So whatever your economic/political ideology is, I am not here to convert you)

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/randalls-rant-more-lpga-players-need-step-plate

Randall Mell of Golf Channel hits the nail on the head. I won't be surprised if it was Mike Whan who gave Randall Mell a tap on the shoulder to do the heavy hitting on his behalf.

Most of us here, whether agreeing or not on equal pay, are sympathetic to the girls. A middle of the pack LPGA pro is basically playing for next month's rent while her male counterpart is still playing for jet fuel.

Finally an equal pay event comes along under LPGA sanction, and only 5 of the top 50 players are showing up. Yes, the purse is the smallest , but not by much. And it will be the most non-political way to show their support for equal pay. So what is the excuse ?

I root for women's golf partly because they are the underdog. But I am not sure I feel the same way after this. Perhaps someday when equal pay becomes a common thing and the Vic Open will be remembered as the landmark event.

Young girl golfer: "Did you play in that Vic Open, you know , the event that got it all started ? "

Retired LPGA: "I did not, I remember the travel day conflicted with the Super Bowl "

I wonder if there's something underneath it, meaning the fact it was an LET event. There's a really low amount of quality players akmost glorified symetra tier, so wondering if some are shunning it cause the LET lost it. I respond to a tweet the other day saying that "I thought the LPGA stole this event from the LET and I was disappointed that all the Canadian players were playing it and I wasn't going to watch the event out of protest" and I got a whole bunch of like and even one from LET player Sophie Walker. So maybe some don't wanna play cause of that or just simply it can be many players don't feel 1.2 million dollar purse is worth their time to play that week.

Regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, as I stated in another thread I will no longer lend a sympathetic ear to purse size when top pro's are taking off the Diamond Resort event and even more the Vic event. I can't expect businesses to care enough to pony up 3-5 million dollars when the players don't care enough to support events.

Edit: I was just trying to look at the Final Field for the event and LPGA doesn't have it on the site right now lol

Edit#2 Also, although Brooke likes to play lots of events, she is also probably paying the sponsors back for her first year on tour when they gave her an exemption for this event when the LPGA was having a limited field event that Brooke wasn't qualified for the same week.

Edit#3 Now Beth Allen also liked my tweet saying I thought the LPGA stole this event from the LET, not sure how they are finding it, it was an obscure reply to nobody of importance lol

(Disclaimer: This is not intended to be a debate on equal pay. We already have plenty of those threads. So whatever your economic/political ideology is, I am not here to convert you)

 

 

https://www.golfchan...need-step-plate

 

Randall Mell of Golf Channel hits the nail on the head. I won't be surprised if it was Mike Whan who gave Randall Mell a tap on the shoulder to do the heavy hitting on his behalf.

 

Most of us here, whether agreeing or not on equal pay, are sympathetic to the girls. A middle of the pack LPGA pro is basically playing for next month's rent while her male counterpart is still playing for jet fuel.

 

Finally an equal pay event comes along under LPGA sanction, and only 5 of the top 50 players are showing up. Yes, the purse is the smallest , but not by much. And it will be the most non-political way to show their support for equal pay. So what is the excuse ?

 

I root for women's golf partly because they are the underdog. But I am not sure I feel the same way after this. Perhaps someday when equal pay becomes a common thing and the Vic Open will be remembered as the landmark event.

 

Young girl golfer: "Did you play in that Vic Open, you know , the event that got it all started ? "

Retired LPGA: "I did not, I remember the travel day conflicted with the Super Bowl "

Why is't equal pay?

Is't equal pay when a female CEO makes the same money as a male clerk?

I disagree with the article! Although the original post isn't about that, it really IS about that.

I cannot see the connection between player turn up to a $1.1 million event, and the matter of what extent should elite sportspeople become salespeople for their sport. In other words, an article that somehow ties the Tournament of Champions with the Vic Open is really drawing a longbow!

I wonder if there's something underneath it, meaning the fact it was an LET event. There's a really low amount of quality players akmost glorified symetra tier, so wondering if some are shunning it cause the LET lost it. I respond to a tweet the other day saying that "I thought the LPGA stole this event from the LET and I was disappointed that all the Canadian players were playing it and I wasn't going to watch the event out of protest" and I got a whole bunch of like and even one from LET player Sophie Walker. So maybe some don't wanna play cause of that or just simply it can be many players don't feel 1.2 million dollar purse is worth their time to play that week.

 

Regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, as I stated in another thread I will no longer lend a sympathetic ear to purse size when top pro's are taking off the Diamond Resort event and even more the Vic event. I can't expect businesses to care enough to pony up 3-5 million dollars when the players don't care enough to support events.

 

Edit: I was just trying to look at the Final Field for the event and LPGA doesn't have it on the site right now lol

 

Edit#2 Also, although Brooke likes to play lots of events, she is also probably paying the sponsors back for her first year on tour when they gave her an exemption for this event when the LPGA was having a limited field event that Brooke wasn't qualified for the same week.

 

Edit#3 Now Beth Allen also liked my tweet saying I thought the LPGA stole this event from the LET, not sure how they are finding it, it was an obscure reply to nobody of importance lol

The LPGA players skipping the event to stand up for the LET ? I doubt it. Let's increase the purse to 2M and see if they still feel the same way . :)

Another cautionary tale of chasing the LPGA ? The New Zealand Open. It was a nice little LET event for the locals to see their hero Lydia. Then it went to LPGA and came across the "Lydia downturn" , now there is no more event. (Although it might not have survived under the struggling LET anyway, we have no way of knowing. )

 

Regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, as I stated in another thread I will no longer lend a sympathetic ear to purse size when top pro's are taking off the Diamond Resort event and even more the Vic event.

And don't get me started on the Diamond Resort event, where half of the top 10 players went MIA.

I understand for some of the overseas players , it is a long way to come in the middle of a 2 months break to play in just one "party event" . But I know for sure some of those were here in the US, even in Florida ( yes, I am talking about you SHP ) . And I am surprised that the usual giver , not taker , SYR also decided to skip it to stay in Dallas. Everybody was rusty and was working on their game in some form, but those who showed up soldiered on.

It is a new experiment and turned out to receive quite a bit of coverage in the media. I just hate to be the commissioner and having to explain to the sponsor why a number of my best champions can't be bother with a working vacation.

Is their any current field listings for both the men and women? I can`t find anything.

(Disclaimer: This is not intended to be a debate on equal pay. We already have plenty of those threads. So whatever your economic/political ideology is, I am not here to convert you)

 

 

https://www.golfchan...need-step-plate

 

Randall Mell of Golf Channel hits the nail on the head. I won't be surprised if it was Mike Whan who gave Randall Mell a tap on the shoulder to do the heavy hitting on his behalf.

 

Most of us here, whether agreeing or not on equal pay, are sympathetic to the girls. A middle of the pack LPGA pro is basically playing for next month's rent while her male counterpart is still playing for jet fuel.

 

Finally an equal pay event comes along under LPGA sanction, and only 5 of the top 50 players are showing up. Yes, the purse is the smallest , but not by much. And it will be the most non-political way to show their support for equal pay. So what is the excuse ?

 

I root for women's golf partly because they are the underdog. But I am not sure I feel the same way after this. Perhaps someday when equal pay becomes a common thing and the Vic Open will be remembered as the landmark event.

 

Young girl golfer: "Did you play in that Vic Open, you know , the event that got it all started ? "

Retired LPGA: "I did not, I remember the travel day conflicted with the Super Bowl "

Take a close look at last years Vic Open men`s field. http://www.vicopengolf.com/scores-men

Hmmm, something is missing from that field?

Regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, as I stated in another thread I will no longer lend a sympathetic ear to purse size when top pro's are taking off the Diamond Resort event and even more the Vic event.

 

And don't get me started on the Diamond Resort event, where half of the top 10 players went MIA.

 

I understand for some of the overseas players , it is a long way to come in the middle of a 2 months break to play in just one "party event" . But I know for sure some of those were here in the US, even in Florida ( yes, I am talking about you SHP ) . And I am surprised that the usual giver , not taker , SYR also decided to skip it to stay in Dallas. Everybody was rusty and was working on their game in some form, but those who showed up soldiered on.

 

It is a new experiment and turned out to receive quite a bit of coverage in the media. I just hate to be the commissioner and having to explain to the sponsor why a number of my best champions can't be bother with a working vacation.

Larry Bohannan was at the Diamond resort event (he's a reporter) and he responded to Randall Mell saying he spoke to an LPGA caddie who said they weren't going cause of the purse and travel distance, kind of a disingenuous argument as there's another event in Austraia the following week. I can see lower priority list players not going if they can't guarantee being in both events. I guess beggars can be chooser, again I guess that's one way to go, blacklisting the events with smaller purse. Not sure if I was looking to become a sponsor of the LPGA, I'm willing to put up 3 million when you have no idea of the commitment or appreciation by the players. And where is the cut off dollar amount, the founders event is only 1.5 million, how about the girls take a stand there at this event and see how the optics of that plays out lol

(Disclaimer: This is not intended to be a debate on equal pay. We already have plenty of those threads. So whatever your economic/political ideology is, I am not here to convert you)

 

 

https://www.golfchan...need-step-plate

 

Randall Mell of Golf Channel hits the nail on the head. I won't be surprised if it was Mike Whan who gave Randall Mell a tap on the shoulder to do the heavy hitting on his behalf.

 

Most of us here, whether agreeing or not on equal pay, are sympathetic to the girls. A middle of the pack LPGA pro is basically playing for next month's rent while her male counterpart is still playing for jet fuel.

 

Finally an equal pay event comes along under LPGA sanction, and only 5 of the top 50 players are showing up. Yes, the purse is the smallest , but not by much. And it will be the most non-political way to show their support for equal pay. So what is the excuse ?

 

I root for women's golf partly because they are the underdog. But I am not sure I feel the same way after this. Perhaps someday when equal pay becomes a common thing and the Vic Open will be remembered as the landmark event.

 

Young girl golfer: "Did you play in that Vic Open, you know , the event that got it all started ? "

Retired LPGA: "I did not, I remember the travel day conflicted with the Super Bowl "

 

 

Take a close look at last years Vic Open men`s field. http://www.vicopengolf.com/scores-men

 

Hmmm, something is missing from that field?

Tyler McCumber in da house! Also Matthew Perry, fresh off his Friends gig.

[email protected] very interesting scenario has occurred as the LPGA purses have grown as has the number of events. Players have choices now and they're making decisions on a variety of factors including the convenience of travel. I'm with you on the concept but the reality is there's more money available which is basically Econ 101... supply and demand.

I think the answer is quite simple, and has nothing to do with the LET. There are tournaments four weeks in a row starting 2/7. Two in Australia, and one in Thailand and Singapore. Very few pros play four weeks in a row, so it makes sense to skip the event with the smallest purse, and then play three weeks in a row before heading to Phoenix.

Pretty bold to call this an "equal pay" event when it's the smallest purse on the entire LPGA schedule. Considering this fact, it seems like the field they've gotten is actually pretty strong. Randall Mell's faux outrage is more than a little patronizing, in my opinion.

Not to mention, shouldn't the outrage be more focused on the lack of men's talent in the field? Easier for Mell to just blame the women.

Yeah, travel for 4 weeks and playing golf is tough, how will they ever recover with only 3 weeks off between the Singapore event and the founders. But again to each their own, I did care about purse size for the girls but now I don't. Truthfully though, comparing LPGA purse size with PGA purse size isn't a fair comparison. From viewing audience on TV and amount of people who show up at the course to watch (outside a few LPGA events generally outside the US) and overall public interest, a more apt comparison would be with the WEB.COM events. The LPGA has bigger purses than the WEB.COM, so they are making more than the guys

I agree with DP, I believe that this is a case where the recent success of the tour is starting to effect the choices the players are making. With 32 events on the schedule, and the top players only teeing it up 22 - 25 times, something is going to be skipped. It'll be interesting to see how many players skip the ISPS Handa in Australia, and instead head straight to Thailand.

Pretty bold to call this an "equal pay" event when it's the smallest purse on the entire LPGA schedule. Considering this fact, it seems like the field they've gotten is actually pretty strong. Randall Mell's faux outrage is more than a little patronizing, in my opinion.

 

Not to mention, shouldn't the outrage be more focused on the lack of men's talent in the field? Easier for Mell to just blame the women.

Ah...someone noticed what I said earlier "Take a close look at last years Vic Open men`s field. http://www.vicopengolf.com/scores-men

Hmmm, something is missing from that field?"

They took down both Final fields on the LPGA site for the Aussie events, so them may not want a discussion about that lol

I also think the Commish has some responsibility with success and failure of some of these events. I was looking at the Schedule and the new team event (which could be a fun event on the calendar) has a 2 million dollar purse which is nice but is right before the Evian with no week off. So if you play in the team event, you then have to jump on a plane go through multiple time zones and land in France. Are many of the really big names, who define themselves with Majors really gonna wanna do this? I also think Majors are important to your legacy so I have no issue with how any player chooses to prepare the weeks leading into them. This just seems kinda of stupid placement for a new and potentially fun event.

Pretty bold to call this an "equal pay" event when it's the smallest purse on the entire LPGA schedule. Considering this fact, it seems like the field they've gotten is actually pretty strong. Randall Mell's faux outrage is more than a little patronizing, in my opinion.

 

Not to mention, shouldn't the outrage be more focused on the lack of men's talent in the field? Easier for Mell to just blame the women.

No doubt it takes effort from all sides. But the basic question remains "If the girls themselves don't care, why should we ? "

I completely understand the travel aspect and not wanting to play too many in a row, but five of the top 50 is pretty bad.

I guess the upside is some of the lower priority players will get an extra start. Is there a stipend or help with travel expenses?

Pretty bold to call this an "equal pay" event when it's the smallest purse on the entire LPGA schedule. Considering this fact, it seems like the field they've gotten is actually pretty strong. Randall Mell's faux outrage is more than a little patronizing, in my opinion.

 

Not to mention, shouldn't the outrage be more focused on the lack of men's talent in the field? Easier for Mell to just blame the women.

 

No doubt it takes effort from all sides. But the basic question remains "If the girls themselves don't care, why should we ? "

I don't think it's fair at all to say they "don't care" about playing in their lowest purse event of the year that also happens to be in the most remote location for the top US and European players. If the sponsor wanted top players from the LPGA, they should have paid appearance fees, not created this "equal pay" stunt - OR - make the purse of an average LPGA size. Mell is basically saying players should have taken a pay cut to fly around the world to play with second rate men's players - it's an absurd premise.

Pretty bold to call this an "equal pay" event when it's the smallest purse on the entire LPGA schedule. Considering this fact, it seems like the field they've gotten is actually pretty strong. Randall Mell's faux outrage is more than a little patronizing, in my opinion.

 

Not to mention, shouldn't the outrage be more focused on the lack of men's talent in the field? Easier for Mell to just blame the women.

 

No doubt it takes effort from all sides. But the basic question remains "If the girls themselves don't care, why should we ? "

 

I don't think it's fair at all to say they "don't care" about playing in their lowest purse event of the year that also happens to be in the most remote location for the top US and European players. If the sponsor wanted top players from the LPGA, they should have paid appearance fees, not created this "equal pay" stunt - OR - make the purse of an average LPGA size. Mell is basically saying players should have taken a pay cut to fly around the world to play with second rate men's players - it's an absurd premise.

I don't see it as an "absurd premise". Meaningful changes in this world are seldom served on a silver platter, and often requires sacrifices from the stake holders to fight for it, sometimes with their lives. But of course this is only golf, a 15% discount from the lowest purse doesn't sound absurd to me, IF it is a cause they believe is worth fighting for.

Vic Open has been doing this equal pay thing for years now, so it is not a "stunt", in fact , they probably broke their piggy bank to double the purse this year just to court the LPGA players. And the Aussie Open is in the week after, players are not traveling half the globe just for a single event.

No, they're traveling half the globe to play the following three events. How many players play 4 events in a row? Few.

Pretty bold to call this an "equal pay" event when it's the smallest purse on the entire LPGA schedule. Considering this fact, it seems like the field they've gotten is actually pretty strong. Randall Mell's faux outrage is more than a little patronizing, in my opinion.

 

Not to mention, shouldn't the outrage be more focused on the lack of men's talent in the field? Easier for Mell to just blame the women.

 

No doubt it takes effort from all sides. But the basic question remains "If the girls themselves don't care, why should we ? "

 

I don't think it's fair at all to say they "don't care" about playing in their lowest purse event of the year that also happens to be in the most remote location for the top US and European players. If the sponsor wanted top players from the LPGA, they should have paid appearance fees, not created this "equal pay" stunt - OR - make the purse of an average LPGA size. Mell is basically saying players should have taken a pay cut to fly around the world to play with second rate men's players - it's an absurd premise.

 

I don't see it as an "absurd premise". Meaningful changes in this world are seldom served on a silver platter, and often requires sacrifices from the stake holders to fight for it, sometimes with their lives. But of course this is only golf, a 15% discount from the lowest purse doesn't sound absurd to me, IF it is a cause they believe is worth fighting for.

 

Vic Open has been doing this equal pay thing for years now, so it is not a "stunt", in fact , they probably broke their piggy bank to double the purse this year just to court the LPGA players. And the Aussie Open is in the week after, players are not traveling half the globe just for a single event.

It may not be a stunt exactly, but what SheriffBooth and myself have pointed out is the the lack of super star talent in the men`s field. These guys are pro`s of course but not PGA Tour caliber guys. So in other words Mell is making a big deal about "equal pay" being paid out, when the talent level of each group isn`t of equal caliber.

It`s a slap in the face in terms of equality. Top tier ladies, and mid tier men does not equal the same talent level.

It`s like saying a Corvette and a Cobalt deserve the same sticker price because they are "only cars".

How many players play 4 events in a row? Few.

I believe that number is higher than you think.

How many players play 4 events in a row? Few.

 

I believe that number is higher than you think.

I should be clear that I meant 4 events in 4 weeks. I'll take a look at the top players' 2018 schedules tomorrow.

Whan completely disagrees with Mel. Whan said it’s not the sponsors’ job to increase purses withour ratings and interest also going up. It’s his (Whan’s) job to do that. Whan is doing a great job, but equal pay cannot come without equal fan interest to the PGA Tour.

I wonder if there's something underneath it, meaning the fact it was an LET event. There's a really low amount of quality players akmost glorified symetra tier, so wondering if some are shunning it cause the LET lost it. I respond to a tweet the other day saying that "I thought the LPGA stole this event from the LET and I was disappointed that all the Canadian players were playing it and I wasn't going to watch the event out of protest" and I got a whole bunch of like and even one from LET player Sophie Walker. So maybe some don't wanna play cause of that or just simply it can be many players don't feel 1.2 million dollar purse is worth their time to play that week.

 

Regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, as I stated in another thread I will no longer lend a sympathetic ear to purse size when top pro's are taking off the Diamond Resort event and even more the Vic event. I can't expect businesses to care enough to pony up 3-5 million dollars when the players don't care enough to support events.

 

Edit: I was just trying to look at the Final Field for the event and LPGA doesn't have it on the site right now lol

 

Edit#2 Also, although Brooke likes to play lots of events, she is also probably paying the sponsors back for her first year on tour when they gave her an exemption for this event when the LPGA was having a limited field event that Brooke wasn't qualified for the same week.

 

Edit#3 Now Beth Allen also liked my tweet saying I thought the LPGA stole this event from the LET, not sure how they are finding it, it was an obscure reply to nobody of importance lol

I don't think there's anything to it that is affecting the field quality, the LET still have 30 players in the event based on their 2018 money list and there are also LET members within the LPGA and ALPG member allocations aswell. Im sure the LET girls are disappointed its no longer part of the co sanctioning arrangements as they've been part of it for the last 3-4 years or so but you cant beget the event organisers Golf Australia, and the Vic State Govt who are kicking in the prize purse and forging the way for equal pay and sponsors ISPS for wanting the best fields possible and chasing the LPGA co sanctioning arrangement. There may be further LET players who play their way in through the Vic Open exemptions at ALPG qualifying school held Mon-Wed next week (8 spots, 90 odd girls, alot of LET girls) and pre qualifying (3 spots). All said and done, im sure there will be over 45 LET players by the time the event kicks off.

At the end of the day they want the most high profile event they can put on that has economic impact in a tourist area and draws the biggest gallery and tv audience they can get. It is always a great event and the Euro mens and LPGA womens sanctioning arrangements will make it a unique event to be a part of. The only downside I can think of is that we may have to have fairways roped off for the first time which would be a shame but understandable. I enjoy when the crowds can walk along close to us and I enjoy having a chat with the gallery when playing.

Im playing in the event, so if i can get time that week Ill get some pics and post them if possible as we go.

Ausgolfgirl

How many players play 4 events in a row? Few.

 

I believe that number is higher than you think.

 

I should be clear that I meant 4 events in 4 weeks. I'll take a look at the top players' 2018 schedules tomorrow.

Well, that’s a little different. It wasn’t possible in ‘18 until starting with LOTTE and even then there’s a break after four weeks. The nine-week stretch starting with Kingsmill included two Majors, so I’d expect most to take a break somewhere.