The LPGA golfers in the community might not receive the same adulation as their male counterparts. However, “the times they are a-changin'”.  Earlier in October, Lexi Thompson got the sponsor’s exemption for the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas, making her the 7th woman to play in a PGA Tour event. As opportune as that was, and a testament to her prowess, of course, it also happened to be cannon fodder for some very contrasting opinions, some from fans, some from professionals.  

In a recent appearance on a podcast, former golfer Michelle Wie West talked about the sponsor’s exemptions, demoralizing advice from agents, the uncertainties of being a female athlete, and her evolution as an investor. 

Michelle Wie West shares the pressure a female athlete faces

West retired from the sport after the U.S. Open in the early part of 2023 and has since stepped up as an investor instead. West’s recent investment was in Tiger Woods‘ new league TGL. The golfer has now gained the best of both worlds, as she now ventures on a new adventure. 

As a guest on the Sports Pro: The Big Interview, Michelle talked about various things and shared her valuable insights about them. As a female athlete herself, she had opined about the expansion of golf for female athletes. Having been in the shows of these extraordinary women, she also spoke about female golfers feeling option-less. If you are wondering how an international athlete could feel helpless, West explains that as well, with a simple example of how agents treat them. 

When Michelle was asked about how she approached the sponsorship deals when she was actively playing, the Hawaiian golfer kind of exposed the dilemma female golfers face. The 1x major winner cited that since female sports are not that big, agents tend to make them feel like “this is as good as gonna get. So just accept it, right? You probably won’t get another sponsor. It’s probably the only one that’s interested in you.” 

Furthermore, Michelle said that the thoughts occupying a female athlete’s mind are an echo of the same predicament. She said, “I think as a female athlete, you like, subconsciously, you’re like, oh, yeah, like, I don’t know when another sponsor is going to come, I should be lucky that they even want to sponsor me or pay me at all. So you kind of gotten to this, like acceptance trend where you’re like, Okay, I should just accept it because I don’t know when the next one is going to come.” 

The 5 time LPGA winner also expressed the need for female athletes to think like investors and that’s what she had included in her career. Her comments on sponsors’ invitation take us back to Lexi Thompson and her appearance on the PGA Tour.

How a sponsor’s invite affects female athletes

Lexi Thompson was participating in the Shriners Children’s Open on a sponsor’s invite. The golfer was seen enjoying the fact that she was given an opportunity to participate in the proverbial big leagues. Her participation was in itself a historical moment. She was only the 7th woman in history to play on the men’s tour.

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However, right after the announcement of Thompson’s inclusion in the event, there were negative comments from players and the community alike. Peter Malnati called the act a ‘gimmick’.   Of course, later he explained his reasons and took back his words.

However, the criticism from the public has raised confounding questions. West’s suggestion that female athletes get stuck in the dilemma and fear that they won’t get another sponsor; are the worries for nothing? Perhaps not but empirical evidence would suggest otherwise. The backlash clearly shows that there are still many battles to be fought and won. After all, “the times they are a-changin’.” 

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