PGA vs. LPGA

[Big D McGee]

When Tiger, Phil, etc. aren't playing, which would you rather watc

Like most everyone here on this board, I'm a huge golf nut; I'll watch pretty much any televised golf, even *shudder* The Champions Tour.

When there's a PGA Tournament that features the big guns like Tiger, Phil, Furyk, Singh, etc., that wins my viewership hands-down. I'm sure most of you all would agree.

However, when the top players take a week (or 2) off, I'd much, much rather watch the LPGA Tour. I feel that the LPGA Tour has much more excitement inasmuch as there are 20-30 excellent players who could win any tournament at any time. Sure, you get breakthrough winners like Zach Johnson, Boo Weekley, and Nick Watney, on the PGA Tour, but by and large there are only 5-10 players who are really in contention when Tiger & Co. play.

I also feel that the women's game more closely mirrors that of the "average" golfer. Don't get me wrong, I know these women are a million times better than I ever will be, but it's still nice to see a woman take a hybrid or even a 5-wood to approach the green on a longer hole, instead of hitting driver, 9-iron.

Anyone else feel like the LPGA Tour is much more competitive with the men's tour now? Am I alone in that I'd rather watch a women's event that a somewhat "watered-down" PGA Tour event?

[GoingLow]

In order of preference....note the spacing

 

PGA Tour

 

Nationwide Tour

European Tour

 

 

 

LPGA Tour

 

 

Senior Tour

[Shaitan]

I would rather watch the PGA Tour then the LPGA Tour anyday - I still watch the LPGA tour but I'm definately not as interested in it. I think there is a different level or two between those circuits. My order of preference is pretty similar to GoingLow's, although I'd switch the EPGA and Nationwide around. The EPGA is good, just really boring commentators.

[JTK37]

I'm a huge Tiger fan, but if hes not playing I've got very little interest in watching a bunch of guys whose names I don't know play. I'm a big big golf fan. But I would rather watch the LPGA, Nationwide or Champions with the absence of big names in PGA events. Seems like theres more drama on the other tours and more parity amongst the players (despite the PGA field being deeper and eeper each year).

[bluetrane]

I completely agree with JTK37.

 

The LPGA has grown on me. I'd rather watch Annika, Ochoa, Pak, Gulbis, Creamer than Haas, eaks, and so on and so forth. Great talent at that level and I also agree with Big D. It's fun watching the players hit 250 and hit a hybrid into the green. Just like us average hackers, except there's no money, fame, glory or... sponsorships and free equipment! haha.

 

Peace.

 

edit: Let me rephrase "just like us average hackers". They are not like us average hackers. Their games are far superior.

[Sean2]

I agree as well. The lady's play from the same distances (most of the time) that we do. They hit hybrids and fairway woods as approach shots into long par 4's like most of us. Not many can reach a par 5 in two, same as most of us. Their game is much more similar to most of us...as far as distance, etc., not scoring, which they are much better at.

 

I can't relate to a 300+ yard drive (I've hit three in my golfing life), or pitching wedges from 140, or a 288 yard par 3. Sure, it's fun to watch, but I can't relate to it.

 

In other words, I can relate to the LPGA tour more than the PGA tour. That doesn't mean I don't watch the PGA tour (I thought Woody Austin was masterful today), but the PGA tour plays a game I am completely unfamiliar with, whereas the ladys play a game more related to mine.

 

All of my clubs are game-improvement type, and my ball is too. I am probably a little above average golfer, trying to have fun. I consistently break 90, and twice have broken 80. I'd rather play a pro-am with the ladys then the men. I go to the Deutsche Bank every year and watch these guys hit shots that just amaze me. For example, a 184 yard uphill par 3 to a well bunkered green. Vijay takes out a 7-iron and putts it 10 feet left of the cup.

 

So, yeah, I guess you could say I'm a lady's man. :friends:

 

ps: I'm playing TPC Boston in a couple of weeks, not that that has anything to do with this topic.

[johnj]

If both the PGA and LPGA are on at the same time, I'll flip back and forth, especially on "off" weeks for the PGA tour. I enjoy watching the LPGA and have a vested interest in Women's golf as my daughter, who is now playing, watches with me. I can't really get behind the Champions Tour...I've tried...but I do enjoy the highlights. As for the European Tour, Nationwide Tour...I suspect even the players on those tours are watching the PGA and not their own...J

[littlepingman]

I find myself watching the LPGA Tour a bit more than the PGA Tour these days. I also think its very smart that the LPGA Tour usually takes a break the week of a PGA Tour major, such as this coming week. They pretty much know they can't compete with that kinda tournament and they don't try. :friends:

[pafundi]

I'll probably split time between tournaments.

 

Since this last week's LPGA event was a major, I decided to watch that instead of the St. Judes.

[johnj]

I also think its very smart that the LPGA Tour usually takes a break the week of a PGA Tour major, such as this coming week. They pretty much no they can't compete with that kinda tournament and they don't try.

 

Agreed...J

[The Big Schwag]

when Phil is in or Daly is playing really good I will flip back and forth other wise I usually watch the LPGA, this weekend had a great finish there was still 3-4 players with a great chance until Petterson lagged it tight. If I am watching the PGA and the leader is up by 6 with 3 to play I am outta there as they rarely make mistakes.

[hobbes]

If the big names aren't playing (and I include down to about the top 15 as "big" ) then I don't watch anything. I'd rather go play...

[HipCheck]

I'll probably split time between tournaments.

 

Since this last week's LPGA event was a major, I decided to watch that instead of the St. Judes.

 

Same for me. I watched the McDonald's almost exclusively this weekend.

 

I did flip channels to see Woody Austin walking up 18, and judging from the shirt he was wearing, I actually first thought this was a 'Rain Delay' Replay of tournament from 1991 or something. :friends:

[villa]

Interesting stats from the U.S:

 

CBS Coverage of the Wachovia Championship (final day average):

2005 (with Tiger) 5,170,000

2006 (without Tiger) 3,377,000

Average audience increase of 53% when Tiger took part.

 

CBS Coverage of the Byron Nelson Classic (combined average, final 2 days):

2005 (with Tiger) 6,120,000

2006 (without Tiger) 4,822,000

Average audience increase of 28% when Tiger took part.

 

CBS Coverage of the Memorial Tournament (final day average);

2005 (with Tiger) 4,452,000

2006 (without Tiger) 2,707,000

Average audience increase of 64% when Tiger took part.

 

The guy clearly brings in the viewers (although i'm not saying these viewers switch to the LPGA instead).

 

For me, I prefer watching the European Tour but when i'm watching the PGA tour there's so many bloody commercial breaks I can switch regularly back and forth to the LPGA.

 

The LPGA can be boring but with Creamer and Pressel stepping up to the plate, if Annika can get her game back and Michelle Wie can deliver on some of her promise then that is going to be a great tour to watch in a few years time.

[NEVA3PUTT]

IF U LUV GOLF YOU SHOULD LOVE AND EMBRACE ALL THE TOURS

BECAUSE THEY ARE GREAT GOLF ON ALL OF THEM.

I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH ALL SPORTS IS THEY MARKET ONE OR TWO PLAYERS

SO IF THEY ARE NOT PLAYING YOU TELL YOURSELF AM NOT WATCHING

INSTEAD OF ENJOYING YOUR SPORT FOR WHAT IS

[pitch]

Personally I enjoy the PGA Tour coverage better when Tiger isn't playing. I can't stand having to watch every shot he hits, every breath he takes, and every word he says before and after the tournament.

He's a great golfer but when he plays he's about the only one they ever focus on, whether he is in contention or not.

 

I want to see the players near the top of the leaderboard. Not just Tiger and whoever is in first or second.

[Charlie_Foxtrot]

IF U LUV GOLF YOU SHOULD LOVE AND EMBRACE ALL THE TOURS

BECAUSE THEY ARE GREAT GOLF ON ALL OF THEM.

I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH ALL SPORTS IS THEY MARKET ONE OR TWO PLAYERS

SO IF THEY ARE NOT PLAYING YOU TELL YOURSELF AM NOT WATCHING

INSTEAD OF ENJOYING YOUR SPORT FOR WHAT IS

 

Your Caps button is stuck.

 

 

I watch, and enjoy, both PGA and LPGA. If both are in HD, I'll probably watch the LPGA first. But it really depends on which tournament interests me more that particular day.

 

But something has to be done about the frequency of commercials for both PGA and LPGA broadcasts. Even with TiVo, it's getting tough to watch. The Masters was a great respite from the constant Cialis, Viagra, Garman GPS, and Crowne Plaza Hotels commercials.

[GoingLow]

Personally I enjoy the PGA Tour coverage better when Tiger isn't playing. I can't stand having to watch every shot he hits, every breath he takes, and every word he says before and after the tournament.

He's a great golfer but when he plays he's about the only one they ever focus on, whether he is in contention or not.

 

I want to see the players near the top of the leaderboard. Not just Tiger and whoever is in first or second.

 

 

Amen to that. The kicker for me was first day coverage at the Memorial, when they had a post-round interview with Tiger, then a lengthy replay of his round highlights, then to a commercial and THEN they had footage of Tiger on the frickin range with Stevie and coach Hank. Unbelievalbe.

[armygolfer]

I find myself watching more LPGA, because they do play more like we do, as far as distances go. I also like watcihng there tempo, most of them have nice smooth swings that are just pleasing to the eye. My wife has also recently gotten into golf, and she enjoys watching LPGA more, and it is nice to watch it with her.

[dulce]

Thank goodness for TIVO! We record the PGA, LPGA, European. The LPGA is oftentimes our first choice for playback. Both my husband and I are big LPGA fans -- we loved watching Annika's domination and now we're enjoying the emergence of lots of very good young players. It was great watching the McDonald's last week and even on the back nine wondering who was going to pull it out. I think women's golf now is more like the PGA tour was in the 50's & 60's -- there's lots more personality and, if you go to the tournaments, it's easy to follow a group and the players are much more accessible and fan-friendly.

 

However, if Tiger is playing, the PGA is the first watched. If Tiger's playing it's a big event -- major, Players, Memorial, etc. If Tiger's not playing, we still watch but may only watch parts of it on Thursday to Saturday -- particularly if we've watched the LPGA event before PGA playback. This past Sunday, we let the St. Jude's get a 45 minute headstart then watched it (we FF through all but the actual golf shot) and when we ran out of recording, we switched to the McDonald's and when we ran out of recording there, we watched the finish at the St. Jude's and then switched back for the finish of the McDonald's.

 

The European Tour is rarely "must see". Dubai gets our attention but mostly we watch the European recording when we're having a lazy weekend morning and just hanging about. We're both huge International player fans so Goosen, Els, Harrington, etc can be the difference between watching or deleting. We also love to watch St. Andrews and some of the Irish & Scottish courses.

 

It's extremely rare that we watch the Nationwide or Champions tour. We watched some of the action at the Champions event at Kiawah recently because we wanted to see Kiawah again. Usually the Senior British Open is at a course that we enjoy seeing. I think we watched the Nationwide Tour ending event last fall to see who got their cards. The TIVO records them but whichever of us cleans the list usually just deletes them without either of us watching.

[Status]

In the UK Sky have lost the PGA Tour coverage, except for the majors, and instead we get a review of the days European Tour event and often the LPGA Tour event.

 

Sometimes we get the European LPGA events and, no offence to LPGA players, the players on there have got game and looks. There are some pics on the WITB forum from one of the ELPGA Tour events that shows what I mean.

 

Not a big fan of the Champions Tour or the European Seniors Tour but I'm playing in the pro-am of the British Masters on the European Seniors Tour next Monday so we'll see how that goes. May be different once I've met some of them.

 

I agree that I can relate my game, distance wise, far more closely than with the PGA or European Tour.