LPGA looking to take advantage of Taylor Swift effect as women’s golf grows

Taylor Swift and her Elas Tour have taken the world by storm.

She left a huge impact on football, a male-dominated sport. The question is how much influence they can have on women’s sports like women’s golf.

Although she doesn’t necessarily play, Swift consistently uses a neon golf club when she sings the song “Blank Space” on her show.

But her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, is very knowledgeable about the play. He paired up with teammate Patrick Mahomes at Capital One’s The Match last year and competes in the annual American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Considering what her relationship with Kelce has done for the NFL, her influence could be a great tool for women’s golf.

LPGA Commissioner Molly Marcoux Samaan recognizes this.

LPGA thinking outside the box

The LPGA’s Singapore tournament ended on Sunday, which coincided perfectly with Swift’s schedule. Marcou Samaan takes the shot. The invitation has been extended Swift, according to the Washington Post.

“There’s nothing wrong with Taylor Swift’s positive effects,” the commissioner said. “Taylor, please come. Our door is wide open.”

Swift may not be a huge golfer, but if she were to attend an LPGA event, it could only mean good things for the sport.

We all witnessed her contribution to NFL viewership history.

Super Bowl 15 is most watched tv event forever. According to the LA Times, the average audience was 120 million on CBS alone, and 123.4 million on other platforms.

FOX averaged 115.1 million viewers last year.

That may not sound like a big jump. But historically, when you see the same teams appearing year after year, you see team fatigue in the ratings. The Chiefs were making their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years, but their final appearance broke all records.

Anyone with a pulse knows it’s due to the Swift effect.

His relationship with Kelce not only boosted Super Bowl ratings, but was felt throughout the season.

She changed NFL ratings by supporting her boyfriend. Ever since she started going to Week 3 games, Women crowding around the screen. Viewership among 18-34 year olds increased by 9%. He also increased by 6% in men, according to Front Office Sports.

Additionally, as of Jan. 22, she also helped bring in $331.5 million in additional revenue for the Chiefs.

Marcou Samaan is aware of her influence, which seems to be why she extended that invitation to the pop star and her boyfriend. Swift didn’t show up in Singapore, but there’s no telling what will happen if the LPGA continues to persevere.

The LPGA and women’s sports in general are on the rise. Tour revenue has increased by more than 65% over the past four years.

They increased prize money this year, including the largest U.S. Women’s Open purse in history, added bigger sponsors and saw more people watch the world’s greatest Women’s Open match.

Ford Motor Company recently partnered with women to sponsor the Ford Championship, which will be held at the end of March. The next nine LPGA events will see more than $2 million in prize money.

LPGA star players

Marcou Samaan also knows it’s time to promote star players from the LPGA to help grow the game. Like professional tennis, she wants to make famous names for more women.

“It’s very important in any sport, but even more important in an individual sport, that our athletes are household names,” said Marcou Samaan. “We believe that now is our time.”

Rose Zhang, who broke into the professional scene in 2023, has been attracting attention with a historic amateur career that even Tiger Woods was unable to achieve. She then won her second consecutive NCAA individual championship and made her LPGA debut.

Introducing Lexi Thompson The PGA Tour has seen an increase in viewership for its fall events. She and Chan faced Max Homa and Rory McIlroy at the 9th edition of The Match. The world witnessed their personalities on full display.

This is a huge step in the right direction for women’s golf.

These aren’t the only women who are considered “big names.” Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson are the two female golfers to make the 2023 Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes.

Marcou Samaan has taken steps to get more names on there, but wouldn’t it be wild to see what the Taylor Swift-supported LPGA can do? I hope that happens because women’s golf deserves attention.

Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirls and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.