tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1198629951037494295.post1940656983953462955..comments2023-11-22T03:32:31.513-05:00Comments on Mostly Harmless: How Well Is Commissioner Michael Whan Doing?The Constructivisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242149985581771922noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1198629951037494295.post-42403847662094952312013-01-28T11:35:59.437-05:002013-01-28T11:35:59.437-05:00To help the Tour in America the American women are...To help the Tour in America the American women are going to have to start winning on a regular basis. Whan can't help with that.<br /><br />However finding some way to add a few more American Tournaments will go a long way to helping the LPGA and its fan base grow.<br /><br />I have always been a fan of the LPGA since Nancy Lopez was the dominant force. It is unfortunate that the LPGA, as others have pointed out, suffers from a lack of coverage.<br /><br />One thing I would love to see the LPGA do is somehow negotiate a contract with the Golf Channel that provides more coverage of all tournaments until the end of the days play is concluded, whether it is broadcast live or on delay. I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it is for me to tune in to the LPGA and only get to watch two hours of play before its off to some other programming. This is especially bad on the major networks and to an extent on the Golf Channel. Fixing this should be a major focus going forwardCydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1198629951037494295.post-30717112023432529042013-01-22T11:12:56.921-05:002013-01-22T11:12:56.921-05:00I think Whan's doing a pretty good job as well...I think Whan's doing a pretty good job as well. Women's sports always seem to be a hard sell even in a good economy. (I know that's not a popular thing to say, but it's true. If sponsors can afford it, they'll almost always go with a men's event -- with the possible exception of the US Women's Soccer Team.)<br /><br />Increasing the number of tournaments, while we all agree it's desirable because we fans want to see more, isn't necessarily in the sponsors' best interest. If players have the opportunity to pick and choose when they play -- which they don't right now -- some fields are going to suffer from lack of starpower. Whan also has to consider that in his actions, and going for big purse events is the best way to lure the big names. Unfortunately, that also limits the number of possible sponsors.<br /><br />I think making Evian a major WAS a hedge against losing the KNC, which was a real possibility at the time. But I also think he's looking at the possibility of having a future major in Asia, and he would still want to keep two majors in the US and two in Europe. Getting everybody used to five majors now would make that an easier sell, as well as giving Asian golf a shot in the arm.<br /><br />In my opinion, Whan's biggest contribution has been his ability to get the various women's tours to work together for their mutual good. You're seeing more co-sponsored events, which draw more attention to women's golf in general, and that's making women's golf more attractive to sponsors. Whan definitely thinks outside the box... and as a result, the box is getting bigger.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11719298227225074496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1198629951037494295.post-65744970636241548782013-01-21T21:23:41.505-05:002013-01-21T21:23:41.505-05:00I agree with a lot of what Tony said. As a person...I agree with a lot of what Tony said. As a person who also lives in the New York area, I also get frustrated with the tabloid's lack of LPGA coverage-I could extend that to women's sports in general. Tony, let me ask you a question: other than the U.S. Open tennis tournament in late August/September, when women's tennis is discussed to some extent, do you feel as I do that "niche" and women's sports such as the LPGA, get little to no coverage in the New York media?<br /><br />Awsi, I don't entirely agree with your views. I don't find LPGA.com to be that difficult to navigate. Yes, it is more complicated than it used to be, but I have gained more comfort the more I visit, which is pretty much every day since that is the only way to obtain information about the sport. <br /><br />I also don't agree with the idea of lowering tournament purses to create more tournaments. The LPGA's purses are significantly lower already than the PGA tour's. I would like to see the purses raised, but that along with more domestic events will hopefully come in time.<br /><br />Where I do agree-I don't want to sound simply contrary-is your disdain about the "gimmicks" that Golf Channel used last year, such as having the players work as crew on telecasts. I would rather see the players miked up more on course or a show or shows focusing on the players' off course lives rather than what feels like to me silly, unnecessary gimmickry. Blue Falconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15974262890935355638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1198629951037494295.post-43474941968318888602013-01-21T21:23:31.919-05:002013-01-21T21:23:31.919-05:00I agree Tony, Whan has done a remarkable job given...I agree Tony, Whan has done a remarkable job given the poor economic environment. I would like the powers that be, to tweak the broadcasting so all players are showcased equally. Watching americans on thurs/fri and then the<br />winners on sat/sun doesnt cut it for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1198629951037494295.post-25207584777671648382013-01-21T21:09:01.867-05:002013-01-21T21:09:01.867-05:00The LPGA.com website is a disaster. It makes me th...The LPGA.com website is a disaster. It makes me think less of the tour, and everyone involved. I could repeat those words dozens of times and still be understating my disgust. <br /><br />I'm not going to care what tournament is next on the docket if it requires visiting the blue on blue horror show to find out. <br /><br />That website was nice and simple under Bivens. Her greatest accomplishment may have been leaving it alone. Whan has tinkered with the website more than he's salvaged the tour. <br /><br />Otherwise, I appreciate what he's done in difficult circumstances but the creativity hasn't been what I would have expected. Founders led me to believe there would be other innovations. Like maybe playing an event alongside the Web.com guys. That would aid both tours. Why isn't there a high profile LPGA pro-am format for several rounds, like Pebble Beach or Palm Springs for the men? You could have a team competition, like the two-man format that the Champions Tour features once per year. Any number of possibilities. Have a long drive contest one week and bunker contest the next week. That could be packaged and shown during the TV coverage, and not inane stuff like having Munoz and Mozo taking over the producers' role. How many times do we have to see that? I also don't understand why every tournament has to be $1 million plus. For years I've posted on LPGA message boards that many $300,000-$500,000 events could fill out the schedule nicely until the economy improves. Get the product out there.Awsi Doogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00592786288148053460noreply@blogger.com