Nelly Korda lays blame for lack of women’s golf coverage at TV network's feet
Television coverage for women's golf is abysmal compared to men's and Korda wants to hold the networks accountable.
Nelly Korda won her second major at the Chevron Championship Sunday.
In doing so, she joined Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez as the third player to ever win five straight LPGA events. This win launched the 25-year-old into another stratosphere.
However, the lack of LPGA coverage is still quite obvious. Despite claiming four victories and the first major on the calendar, the coverage was lacking. It was not the first time Korda’s feats were overshadowed by poor television scheduling. When she won her third straight, fans complained because they only saw her final few holes.
“We need a stage. We need to be on primetime TV, and we need to showcase the talent we have out here, which is a lot,” Korda said afterwards. “We need the support from not just the crowds but the television networks.”
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She took a stance about women’s golf needing a stage, which was not the first time she said that either. Korda expressed a similar sentiment on ESPN ahead of her Chevron Championship run.
The 13-time LPGA winner put her opinion into the public sphere. In order for women’s golf to continue growing, it must be shown.
This argument may feel off-putting after NBC aired at least seven hours of coverage for two days. However, anyone watching the coverage recognized CBS’ RBC Heritage production value overshadowed it.
There were not many camera crews at the Chevron and lacked advanced technology that helps bring viewers into the course that you normally see during a PGA Tour event.
Korda was in the final group for the women’s major, and due to the lack of camera crews, most of her round was seen. But the pace of play forced viewers to simply watch people walk the course, for hours.
It literally took six hours for players to complete their final round. That is not the networks fault and is obviously something the LPGA needs to address.
In turn though, it led to hollow, empty television coverage with no substance. The ratings back that up.
Korda has called for change, but will the networks and the LPGA find a solution?
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.