Which countries promote Ladies Golf the most?
Women golf is on the rise worldwide and many countries have played their part in promoting the game. However, some countries have gone out of their way in campaigning for a sport that has traditionally been associated with retired males.
Golf was traditionally considered a European game, which had a great following in the US. This perception was further affirmed by the number of European and American players who dominated the game and took almost every women golf title.
Things began to change in the 2000’s when a new phenomenon was observed by the golf commentators. Very slowly, Asian players began to dominate the tournaments and pretty soon, Caucasian players took the back seat.
Today, all major golf rankings have Asian names on them. Even the rankings for American and European tours have a good portion of Asian names.
It appears that Japan and South Korea are the countries that promote women golf to the max. This is evident from the number of the top rated players that hail from these countries. The names started with a trickle. Then the floodgates really open in the
2000’s, when the number went up.
Many people have tried to analyse the issue and find out the reasons behind it. The issue is not trivial and it bothers many fans and sponsors. Every group has its own reasons, distinct from other but equally troubling.
For the sponsors, the problem is simple. They need a home grown star to sell to the people. Not many consumers buy things that carry an endorsement by an unknown foreign player. Even if a player is known, the fan following is very limited compared to a national
star.
This lack of local female golf heroes has troubled American and European sponsors for a long time. They have resorted to Asian-American players but even these players are very rare.
This left only the option of using the lower ranked local players. These players do not perform well on the golf course, but at least, they are faces people can relate to.
For fans, the issue is very simple. They need what fans of any other sports need. It is the universal rule in the world of sports that fans always cheer for the local favourite. It becomes very frustrating for the fans if their favourites always loose to
players from other countries.
Japan and South Korea have produced many women golf stars because of the dedication and hard work of their players.
Everyone acknowledges that the players from these countries strive hard to reach their goal. They start young and play their way up to the professional status.
This fact recently came to limelight when Herbert Kohler Junior commented on it. Herbert Kohler knows about Asian work ethics after managing a subsidiary in China. He is also the owner of the Blackwolf Run Golf Club.
He has seen two Asian players lift the most coveted of the American women golf prizes, the U.S. Women Open. In 1998, it was Se Ri Pak, the south Korean star who won it. In 2012, on the same golf course, Na Yeon Choi, another South Korean won it again.
In a statement to Associated Press, Kohler said that the work ethics inspire Asian players to work long and hard. He elaborated, “These Asians have done so well because they know the meaning of work”.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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