The LPGA is at a tipping point.
The sentiment among those around the tour is that the environment is ripe for unprecedented growth and that opportunity is greater than in years past.
There are several reasons for optimism:
*Investment. Sports marketing budgets at companies continue to increase in the post-COVID boom. According to one report, sports sponsorship dollars were estimated to grow by 6% this past year, an increase of $4 billion.
*Global reach.The LPGA has increased its worldwide exposure over the last two-plus decades. Individuals – none greater than South Korea’s Se Ri Pak – have played a large role in this, but the tour has taken expansive steps. In 2006, it added Thailand to its schedule to create three – along with South Korea and Japan – Asia events. This past season, there were two separate swings and seven overall stops. There were also 14 active Thai players on tour, up from one, 20 years ago, as evidence of the …