Imagine this: A mixed-team, better-ball, matchplay event in which Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson meet Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko in the globally televised final of what would be an official US PGA Tour and LPGA tournament.
While the logistics of pulling off such an event would have enormous obstacles, last Friday’s announcement that the US PGA Tour and the LPGA have entered into “a long-term, written strategic alliance” is reason to believe it might be part of golf’s future.
That the two biggest US-based tours would enter into a partnership is something for all golf fans to rejoice in – especially supporters of the women’s game.
The LPGA has always needed a partner with deep financial pockets to help market its very appealing, but too often under-exposed, product. Add this latest news to the creation two years ago of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (a joint venture with the PGA of America), and LPGA officials have the kind of platforms they’ve craved since the tour began 66 years ago.
The US PGA Tour/LPGA arrangement also “will include areas such as schedule coordination, joint marketing programs, domestic television representation, digital media and exploring the potential development of joint events.”
Many fans, a lot of media and pretty much all TV executives have been hoping for this kind of cooperation between the men’s and women’s tours. It means good things ahead for the game.
