‘Hurts Our Game’: Ignorance Pushes Nelly Korda to Beg for Recognition as Caitlin Clark Towers Over LPGA

It would seem there is no better time to be in women’s sports. The interest has grown, as has the money at stake. Caitlin Clark’s WNBA draft just set another viewership record for ESPN. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour is the fourth most-watched show on the Golf Channel, per USTVDB. That’s despite Nelly Korda, the Tour’s biggest name, clinching four titles in a row. At least two programs other than the PGA Tour event are ahead of the LPGA Tour.

It’s not a very prospective scenario when you’re heading to the first major of the season, hoping to score five straight victories for the first time since 1978. Will it lift the Tour out of the abyss of TV ratings? Only when they are afforded the proper stage is the world No. 1 forthright.

Nelly Korda calls out the coverage snub

LPGA pros need a bigger stage to showcase their powerhouse of talents. Not on tape delay but live, as things are happening. “I feel like we just need a stage. We need to be put on TV. I feel like when it’s tape delay or anything like that, that hurts our game. Women’s sports just needs a stage. If we have a stage, we can show up and perform and show people what we’re all about.”

It’s not hard to understand where Korda is coming from. The LPGA Tour and women’s golf in general have received backhanded treatment. In fact, Korda’s fourth victory at the T-Mobile Match Play was snubbed in favor of the PGA Tour Champions. Only the last few holes were broadcast. Even last year, the QBE Shootout was preferred instead of the US Women’s Open.

“With tee times moved up today due to weather, couldn’t the [QBE Shootout’s] 4 hours of live coverage gone tape delayed and the last major of the year be televised live?” Karrie Webb, a Hall of Famer, tweeted at the time. Marina Alex, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, lamented, “How do we grow the game when we can’t be seen?”