Carolyn Bivens' problem: Pathetic lack of TV coverage allows Tiger Woods to completely overshadow Women's British Open
Add commentsAll that talk about women’s golf drawing a lot of buzz needs to stop now. It holds about as much water as Lindsay Lohan’s the cocaine wasn’t mine defense.
For the TV coverage of the Women’s British Open proves without a doubt that the decision makers that matter still regard women’s golf as a third-rate sport at best.
You get more comprehensive coverage of hot dog eating contests and spelling bees in the U.S.
Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1-ranked player in the world in desperate need of a signature victory, holds the six-shot lead she needs at historic St. Andrews and you’ll be able to see two hours total of the final round this afternoon.
In fact, the entire TV coverage of the Women’s British Open totals about seven and 1/2 hours over four rounds. That’s less than just the final day coverage of the Men’s British Open. Heck, Arena Football routinely gets more time.
Is it any wonder why Tiger Woods at Firestone is completely overshadowing the Women’s British Open? Sure Tiger can draw attention away from anything. But it surely helps that most of his shots are actually on TV.
Watch SportsCenter and you’d be sure that Firestone is the major while the Women’s British Open is a podunk event more in line with a local rodeo.
This is LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens’ major problem. Bivens does not have control over the British Open, it’s not an LPGA-run event. But that’s no excuse. A supposed marketing maven should be able to finesse her players getting more respect and exposure.
It’s not like the Women’s British Open is unique either. The TV coverage of most of the women’s tournaments is pathetic.
Ochoa should have her coronation today. But does a major title count if no one can watch it?
Maybe Ochoa will wish she played poker instead.
| « Tiger Woods turns baby man Rory Sabbatini into golf's Patrick Ewing - again | To win Women's British Open, Lorena Ochoa needs to go to sleep with at least a 5-shot lead Saturday night » |
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Jason Scott Deegan:
The Accidental Golfer:
Katharine Dyson:
Kiel Christianson:
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Ever hear of the Colorado Silver Bullets?
If they'd get the viewers, they'd get the air time.
But they don't.
You forgot that during that 7.5 hours of coverage, 3.25 hours were commercials. The women's purse was a little over $1,000,000 while the men's purse was just over $7,000,000. I just love equality in sports!!
You forgot that during that 7.5 hours of coverage, 3.25 hours were commercials. The women's purse was a little over $1,000,000 while the men's purse was just over $7,000,000. I just love equality in sports!!
But I was also bummed out about the (lack of) coverage. How was Reno-Tahoe worthy of replays over the Women's Open at St. Andrews?! Clearly current exposure is not living up to potential.
It's that way in every sport and has nothing to with gender beyond what the viewers want to see. Apparently they don't want to see much women's golf.
Bivens's major problem is she can't figure out how to turn the globalization of women's golf into an asset for an American tour. It seems like the major promotional efforts are reserved for the young Americans. While it's true they've been having great seasons, so have Jee Young Lee, Mi Hyun Kim, Se Ri Pak, and Seon Hwa Lee. But the key problem is with the way they handle Ochoa. She has a Tiger-esque lead on her top competitors, but you don't see much effort to promote her.
Maybe she should try to qualify for some men's events!
I believe Ping only signed her to a contract a couple of months ago after she became #1 ranked female golfers in the world even though she has been playing Ping equipment since she was 16.