Women’s sports are undoubtedly having a moment. From college basketball and the WNBA to the NWSL and even volleyball, attendance, viewership, and media-rights money are up across the board.
But what about women’s golf?
“I think it depends on how you look at it,” LPGA chief marketing and brand officer Matt Chmura tells Front Office Sports. “The purses that our players are playing for are up, but they’re also amongst the highest in women’s sports.”
The LPGA is awarding more than $120 million in prize money this season. The top five earners so far on tour each won more than $2 million, with Nelly Korda topping the list at $3.6 million. That’s slightly behind the top five earners on the WTA Tour (between $3 million and $7 million), but far ahead of other leagues.
Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith is the highest-paid NWSL player, with a salary of roughly $500,000. The highest-paid player in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young, makes just over $252,000 per year.
Better Together
When it comes to creating more interest in the Solheim Cup and women’s golf in general, Chmura says there remains work to be done by the LPGA, as well as the sport’s other governing bodies.
“If you’re a golf fan, you’re cheering for Team USA—Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup,” he says. “And I think that the more we can all work together to galvanize U.S golf fans around Team USA that behooves all of us, both the men and the women.”
The LPGA Tour has nine more events this fall after the Solheim Cup and next year will look to bring in new fans to celebrate its 75th anniversary season.
