Last year, Nelly Korda cemented her place in golf history, but did anyone outside the LPGA notice? By winning her second major at the Chevron Championship, Korda joined Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez as only the third player ever to claim five straight LPGA victories. At 26, Korda is already elevating herself into legendary territory, yet the lack of coverage was baffling. Now, swap Korda for a male golfer her age and imagine them pulling off this feat. Imagine the endless SportsCenter segments, the social media frenzy, the GOAT debates on every talk show that would follow. In Korda’s case, it was treated as just another piece of sports news, another stark reminder of the imbalance in golf’s spotlight.

The debate over the lack of attention and coverage of women’s golfers has intensified over the years. On one hand, you have the PGA Tour mastering the art of turning golfers into household names. Stars like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth aren’t just known for their wins—they have well-documented journeys, rivalries, and personal stories that keep fans engaged. With extensive media coverage, behind-the-scenes content, and series like Netflix’s Full Swing, the PGA Tour ensures its players remain in the spotlight. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour struggles to give its stars the same level of recognition.

While the Drive On campaign is a step in the right direction, the LPGA still needs a stronger media presence and sponsorship backing to elevate its players to global stardom. Tiger Woods‘ niece discussed the same thing in a recent podcast appearance.

Cheyenne Woods appeared as a guest in the latest episode of the Par-Tee with Tisha Alyn on Thursday. During the conversation, she was asked what improvement the LPGA Tour could make as an organization. “I love that the LPGA is elevating their players more. I think that’s always been an issue—more stories. There’s so many great personalities. I know they’ve invested in trying to elevate their players individually, in showcasing those stories, and I think that’s been really great just to bring more eyes on individual players. Like, you see Charley Hull out there, you see Lydia, you see all these personalities that are just so unique.

A lot of the men are able to showcase a bit more, even with the Netflix show, they are household names, and it makes a big difference when it comes to then trying to sell the tour or sell sponsorships to have that connection with fans and players. So I think if they can continue to do that more, it would definitely help,” Cheyenne answered.

The Netflix series, Full Swing, released its third season last month and gave fans a detailed personal look at some of the PGA Tour’s poignant moments from last year. From Scottie Scheffler’s arrest before the first round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla to Rory McIlroy talking about his roller-coaster year, fans are able to see what happened behind the scenes, and all of this helps build more intrigue around them when they take to the greens. Full Swing featured no golfers from the LPGA in its first two seasons, which again highlights the lack of mainstream attention. The third season did see Minjee Lee become the first LPGA golfer to make her debut in the docuseries, but there is a long way to go. Despite impressive careers, players like Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, and Jin Young Ko don’t receive the same storytelling push.

Last year, we witnessed the wonderful tale of Australia’s Su Oh as she made a splash at her national event. 15 years after debuting at the Australian Open as a 12-year-old prodigy, Oh resurfaced as a top contender in November 2024, sharing the lead after the first round with a score of 66. Despite this impressive performance and her journey overcoming a significant slump in her career, her story received limited attention and push from the LPGA.

When you consider how much the LPGA players are involved in shaping their game, it makes it all the more concerning that they are not given their due recognition. When issues arise, such as slow play, top players like Nelly Korda and her peers take an active role in finding solutions. Even without a definitive leader following Mollie Marcoux Samaan’s departure, they successfully tackled the problem, prompting some fans to suggest that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan should take notes. The LPGA has been ahead of the PGA Tour in this regard, but is overshadowed by its counterpart in many areas.

Their earnings remain a fraction of what PGA Tour professionals make, even as they push for higher purses and better sponsorship. The pay disparity between the top-end male and female golfers was on display again last season. Nelly Korda and Scottie Scheffler both had impressive runs last runs. With seven titles, Norda became only the third player to break the $4 million mark before the season finale and ended the season with earnings of $4.39 million. Comparatively, Scheffler, who also triumphed in seven tournaments, closed the year with a prize money of $29.2 million. In fact, Scheffler’s purse of $4.5 million at The Players Championship alone surpasses Korda’s entire season earnings.

On the podcast, Cheyenne talked about what changes she would bring to the fold if she were to become the LPGA commissioner. “I’m thinking of any way to help make the travel easier for the girls. Something they’re able to provide wellness-wise or even hotel sponsorship. That’s really hard for players, whether you’re at the top or you’re just trying to keep your card. Like, it gets expensive, and I always say the lifestyle of playing on tour is one of the most difficult things,” Cheynne mentioned. It prompted Alyn to provide another insight into how far the women’s golf lags.

The host mentioned, “The PGA tour, the new players are essentially loaned nearly half a million dollars to go and support themselves, and the girls are given zero.” Another issue that has afflicted the women’s game is the lack of proper TV coverage. There were not many camera crews at the Chevron when Korda won her second career major. This was also the case when she won her third consecutive start, with the Golf Channel choosing to air the Champions Tour’s finish instead of showing the finish to Korda’s win.

Korda spoke on the issue saying, “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. We need the support from not just the crowds but the television networks.” Notably, the LPGA does not have its own TV rights deal. It is involved in a joint deal with the PGA Tour worth $700 million with CBS, NBC, and ESPN through 2030. Given how the PGA Tour draws viewership in millions compared to LPGA events, the lack of an exclusive deal or its own channel is hurting the LPGA.

While Cheyenne highlighted the drawbacks of the Tour, Woods also made sure to highlight the positive changes that have taken place in recent years.

Tiger Woods’ niece shares delight at seeing the LPGA Tour improve

The LPGA Foundation serves as the charitable arm of the LPGA, reaching over 120,000 individuals each year with initiatives that break down barriers for girls and women in golf. Since 1991, the foundation has expanded programs that enhance accessibility and opportunity, including LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, which engages 100,000 young girls annually. Other efforts include Leadership Academies that cultivate future leaders, scholarships and grants for those facing financial challenges, and a thriving community of 16,000 LPGA Amateurs who share a passion for the game. Cheyenne Woods is among the very few female golfers who have been a part of this.

Taking to this, she said, “It’s amazing to see how they are providing so many programs for girls and amateurs. I absolutely love that.” Cheyenne Woods began playing golf at just five or six years old. She and her mother would visit a local park to practice hitting balls. As her passion for the sport grew, her mother looked into programs in the Greater Phoenix area and discovered the Girls Golf Club, which later evolved into the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program. Created for girls aged 6-17, the program aligned with her grandfather’s belief in introducing children to golf in a way that would capture their interest and encourage their development in the game.

“So, I got my start in that program, and to see it grow into what it is today is incredible. I think the LPGA has done so much in giving back to the game and to communities. Their reach isn’t just in the U.S. but also on a global scale, and that’s been really cool to witness. You’re now seeing a lot of Girls Golf alumni on tour, which really shows how the LPGA supports players throughout their careers. I think they’ve done an incredible job with that,” she concluded.

As the LPGA continues to evolve, the focus must remain on amplifying its players’ stories and achievements. What do you think? How can the LPGA further grow its presence and visibility? Share your thoughts!