Not Bigger but Better than McIlroy and Woods

There are thousands of ways you could go with this debate but, whatever the reasons for it are, the fact is that the Women’s Tour doesn’t receive the same coverage as the Men’s. It’s certainly not because the women aren’t as talented, that would be a very naive assessment. You’ve only got to look at the success of the female competitors in the recent launch of Powerplay Golf to realise that: they finished first, second, and third as I recall, in a field full of Ryder Cup players, Major Champions, and legends from the men’s game.

Whether it’s down to media coverage (which isn’t anywhere near as comprehensive as in the men’s game), the prize money (which isn’t anywhere near as sizeable as in the men’s game), the sponsorship (which isn’t anywhere near as lucrative as in the men’s game), the popularity of the game among young women (which isn’t anywhere near as healthy as in the men’s game)… I could go on, but I think you see the pattern here. There’s enough to write a thesis on any one of these issues, and indeed many more, but the reason I bring it up is to show some recognition for who has a genuine claim to be the biggest superstar in golf.

Take the hype in the aftermath of Rory McIlroy’s win at the 2011 US Open, which has elevated him to the pinnacle of the game. He’s known the world over to golf fans, sports fans, and beyond. McIlroy is touted as the biggest thing since Tiger Woods, a legend of the game, a hero and inspiration to millions.  He’s 22 years old and has one Major under his belt. Equally, Rickie Fowler adorns billboards, TV commercials, and goodness knows what else, as he’s grown into the poster boy of the PGA Tour. Yet he’s won nothing.

I don’t have a problem with either of these two players reaping the rich rewards. They are both exceptionally talented and are undoubtedly, as the American’s would say, “Box Office”.  I’m sure that come the end of their respective careers they will both have trophy cabinets bursting at the hinges.

What puts all the hyperbole surrounding these two (and others on the Men’s Tour) into perspective, is that last weekend Taiwanese Yani Tseng won the Women’s British Open. Aged just 22, this was her fifth Major title. Yes that’s five, at just 22 years old. Yet I’m willing to bet the majority of people reading this have still never heard of her.

Remember the days when Tiger Woods was so dominant and his game so feared that he was odds-on to win two of the four Major titles each year, leaving just two for everybody else to fight over? Well, Tseng is turning that into a reality in the women’s game, winning two in 2010 and two in 2011.

Make no mistake about it, Yani Tseng is the dominant force in golf right now. Not Rory, not Tiger, Phil, or anybody else in the men’s game. She was ‘Rookie of the Year’ in 2008, the fastest player in LPGA Tour history to reach $2million in career earnings, and is the current and undisputed world no.1.

If you’re looking for an inspirational figure in the game, Tseng is the perfect role model. And it’s not just in terms of golfing achievements either. In September 2010, she turned down a $25million sponsorship deal, luxury villa, and use of a private jet, because one of the requirements was that she changed her citizenship to the People’s Republic of China.  Clearly patriotic, Tseng hails from Taiwan, and conceivably this may why she hasn’t received the attention her achievements deserve, at least in the West. I’d wager that she’d be more of a household name if she were European or American.

I’m sure there are a number of other reasons for the lack of publicity, certainly more than can be covered in this article.  I’m also sure I’d be wading into hot water, as, to my eyes at least, a few of the reasons remain taboo subjects; undeniable facts that are a sad indictment of society.  I think if I lamented the fact that these days fame and celebrity isn’t just about talent, you’d know where I’m going.

For my part, though, I’m campaigning for Yani Tseng to receive the public credit she deserves. Five Major titles at the age of 22, the golfing world should be at her feet. She’s quickly becoming a legend of the game that’s actually worthy of the phrase, and could conceivably become the most decorated golfer of any generation.