The LPGA Tour is trying its best to get back in the game. However, it does not look that easy. With young marketable stars like Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, and Charley Hull in the prime of their careers, the tour is running out of time to find a suitable commissioner. According to Sports Business Journal, the PGA of America has reportedly offered the job to COO Craig Kessler, who has emerged as the leading candidate and is now deciding whether to accept it. Kessler, a Harvard MBA grad and SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree, has been rising through golf’s executive ranks. With the LPGA’s global schedule featuring 33 events, the new commissioner will have their work cut out for them. Before the new commissioner is appointed, the golfers clearly have a lot on their plates.
Speaking with Fried Egg Golf, retired LPGA pro Wie West shared her thoughts on the priorities for the new LPGA commissioner. West emphasized the need for improved TV product, stating, “I think TV product is something that needs to look at. Yes. Because, I mean, we get so many comments like, the girls are so slow, the guys are so much faster. And in reality, we are actually faster than the men.” She pointed out the disparity in camera coverage between LPGA and PGA Tour events, noting that the LPGA typically has around 12 cameras. In contrast, PGA Tour events have hundreds, allowing for more dynamic coverage.
Well, the reason behind LPGA players being faster than PGA Tour players is that they have constant support and help to improve. Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, the LPGA’s player president, is a prime example. Having received pace-of-play notices during her playing days in the 1990s that prompted her to examine and adjust her game. With feedback from a rules official, she identified areas for improvement. It was particularly on the greens, and she made a conscious effort to speed up. Now, as player president, she’ll help players adapt to the tour’s revised pace-of-play policy, which aims to maintain a good pace.
It’s not only Michelle Wie West who thinks LPGA TV coverage is ruining the tour’s future. Lexi Thompson expressed frustration with the LPGA’s decision to split tee times on the final day of the CME Group Tour Championship to fit NBC’s broadcast window. “Pretty sad when you’re at -4 in the season-ending event, which could easily be the last CME of your career and you won’t even finish on #18 because they decide to double tee on the final day due to TV coverage window,” Thompson posted on Instagram. This highlighted the tension between TV exposure and the tour’s operations. This issue also drew criticism from CME Group CEO Terry Duffy. It also sparked discussions about the pace of play, with some players suggesting stricter penalties.
West highlighted the importance of statistics in creating an engaging TV product, saying, “Within the storyline of a better TV product, we actually need to have stats available… how we’re talking about people need to have arguments. That’s a great way to get people involved emotionally.” She emphasized the need for more information and statistics to showcase the players’ skills, stating, “You can’t just be like, oh yeah, so player A is a great player. And they’re like, why? Well, I’m sure they hit it far. I’m sure they hit it close. We need to actually have like statistics that these broadcasters can showcase how good these players are.”
Tomorrow’s guest for The Mixed Bag…. the one and only @MichelleWieWest!
She joins @megadkins_TFE and @matthewgalloway for an episode you won’t want to miss. pic.twitter.com/UIBS2TbCEA
— Fried Egg Golf (@fried_egg_golf) May 4, 2025
But the TV coverage problem on the LPGA Tour is a tale as old as time.
Nelly Korda speaks on LPGA coverage concerns
Last year, Nelly Korda won her second major at the Chevron Championship. With this, she joined Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez as the third player to win five straight LPGA events. However, her achievement was overshadowed by concerns over the lack of coverage. Despite claiming four victories and the first major on the calendar, the broadcast lacked production value. “We need a stage. We need to be on primetime TV, and we need to showcase the talent we have out here, which is a lot,” Korda said. Adding on, she said, “We need the support from not just the crowds but the television networks.”
This wasn’t the first time Korda expressed her sentiments on ESPN ahead of the Chevron Championship, emphasizing that women’s golf needs visibility to grow. The limited coverage was noticeable, with few camera crews and outdated technology compared to PGA Tour events. The slow pace of play also contributed to dull TV coverage, with the final round taking six hours to complete. While NBC aired seven hours of coverage over two days, it lacked the production quality seen in other events, such as the CBS RBC Heritage. So, maybe Wie West and other players raising their voice on the matter is actually needed. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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