Los Angeles roared in 1945 as Babe Didrikson Zaharias left PGA lines bent at her stride, becoming the first woman to compete in a PGA Tour event. At the time, at a time when women weren’t even allowed to join many country clubs. In the present times, incorporating women’s golf into TGL’s cutting-edge format was made possible by Rose Zhang’s acquisition of The Bay Golf Club, one of the original teams in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s SoFi-sponsored tech-golf league. The Stanford champion and up-and-coming LPGA star was excited about the league’s ability to draw in new fans and highlight the personalities of its players.

“I want to help drive a different audience to the sport, and TGL is doing a great job of exposing new parts of the game by highlighting players’ personalities and bringing in fun elements,” Zhang stated. Following her, Nelly Korda, another LPGA star, expressed interest in TGL by engaging with the content and endorsing its creative approach. The league’s mixed-gender, simulator-based format is built for inclusivity, paving the way for more female golfers. With Korda rising and Zhang nudging waves, eyes now turn to bold Lilia Vu. Let’s quickly see what she had to say about women’s involvement in TGL in this EssentiallySports Exclusive. 

Lilia Vu advocates for women’s inclusion in TGL

Building on the momentum created by Zhang and Korda, Lilia Vu, a professional golfer, has expressed her support for the inclusion of women’s teams in TGL. In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports’ Andrew Whitelaw, Vu said she was excited about the league’s potential to provide female golfers with a broader platform. “Yeah, I mean I’ve watched it some,” Vu said in response to a question concerning the potential for a women’s version of TGL. “I think it would be really cool not to get a women’s version of it, but to get a women’s team on it. Yeah. So, say, yeah, just a group of three to four girls. Could be anyone. And just ’cause it helps showcase all of us, right? I don’t think the men really lose anything out on adding a girls team. I think that might be kind of interesting for people to see that in a stadium where they can see everything and kind of get to know us more,” she further added.

Vu’s remarks draw attention to the possible advantages of having women’s teams in TGL, both for the players and the spectators. She said, “People don’t know what we’re like,” underscoring the significance of establishing relationships with fans. “People don’t know what Rose is like, Charley, Nelly, me. So, and we’re all so different. And it’d be good to kind of get that connection with the audience and the viewership 100%,” she enlightened the EssentiallySports Exclusive. This viewpoint highlights how important diversity and representation are in sports, arguing that adding women’s teams might improve the viewing experience and increase the league’s appeal. ​

The participation of women’s teams in TGL may also provide a venue for showcasing the distinctive personalities and styles of play of female golfers. With the backing of other LPGA celebrities, Vu’s activism shows that there is a rising push for a more diverse and inclusive professional golf environment. With TGL’s ongoing innovation and growth, the inclusion of women’s teams may be a big step toward gender equality in the sport. ​

The joint endeavors of Zhang, Korda, and Vu have generated discussion over the prospects for women’s involvement in TGL. Their activism has made a compelling case for the benefits of including women’s teams in the league, while also drawing attention to the importance of diversity. As TGL develops, the presence of female players may alter the nature of professional golf, offering a more engaging and diverse experience for both players and spectators.