Congratulations to Lydia Ko on winning the gold medal at the Olympics. Of course, it would have been fabulous if Charley Hull or Georgia Hall had won for team GB, but I was really pleased for the New Zealander, who added gold to her medal collection, having secured silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo.
Not only that, her victory earned her a place in the LPGA Hall of fame. I watched her win her 26th title at Lake Nona, Florida back in January, and since then I’ve been keeping an eye on tournament leaderboards, knowing that she needed just one more LPGA victory to reach the 27 points needed to confirm her induction.
Lydia now joins the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, Se Ri Pak and Dame Laura Davies. It’s remarkable to think that she is still only 27-years old, although let’s not forget that she did turn pro as a 16-year-old in 2013. I’m not taking anything away from her, I’m sure I’d struggle to win that many titles in my lifetime, let alone a decade!
Big shout out too to Germany’s Esther Henseleit who won silver with an incredible 6-under 66 in the final round to race into a medal spot. I would be very surprised if that performance hasn’t guaranteed her place in this year’s European Solheim Cup team as one of Suzann Pettersen’s captain’s picks. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics, not just golf, but all of it. After Paris, LA has definitely got a lot to live up to.
I’ve chatted before about how women’s golf is in the best place it has ever been, especially the professional and elite amateur game. But when it comes to women and girls entering the sport, while we hear and read about data that tells us interest and participation in the women’s game is increasing, many golf clubs must wonder where these people are! Has your golf club seen a significant influx of female members? I know mine hasn’t, and many clubs up and down the country are suffering from a dwindling women’s section. I wrote my column on this subject in the last issue of Golf Monthly and you can read it here.
Not only that, her victory earned her a place in the LPGA Hall of fame. I watched her win her 26th title at Lake Nona, Florida back in January, and since then I’ve been keeping an eye on tournament leaderboards, knowing that she needed just one more LPGA victory to reach the 27 points needed to confirm her induction.
Lydia now joins the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, Se Ri Pak and Dame Laura Davies. It’s remarkable to think that she is still only 27-years old, although let’s not forget that she did turn pro as a 16-year-old in 2013. I’m not taking anything away from her, I’m sure I’d struggle to win that many titles in my lifetime, let alone a decade!
Big shout out too to Germany’s Esther Henseleit who won silver with an incredible 6-under 66 in the final round to race into a medal spot. I would be very surprised if that performance hasn’t guaranteed her place in this year’s European Solheim Cup team as one of Suzann Pettersen’s captain’s picks. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics, not just golf, but all of it. After Paris, LA has definitely got a lot to live up to.
I’ve chatted before about how women’s golf is in the best place it has ever been, especially the professional and elite amateur game. But when it comes to women and girls entering the sport, while we hear and read about data that tells us interest and participation in the women’s game is increasing, many golf clubs must wonder where these people are! Has your golf club seen a significant influx of female members? I know mine hasn’t, and many clubs up and down the country are suffering from a dwindling women’s section. I wrote my column on this subject in the last issue of Golf Monthly and you can read it here.
Yes, more women and girls have taken up the sport over the last few years, especially younger women, and this is positive news, but this has now highlighted even more a generational split between golf club members and those women who are new to the sport and choosing other ways to enjoy the game.
Anyway, I’m writing this on the hottest day of the year and I’d much rather be playing golf in whatever form than sitting in a stuffy office. Looks like the weather is going to hold for this week’s Women's Scottish Open, and I hope it does the same next week when I head to St Andrews for the AIG Women’s Open.
Make the most of the sunshine, it’s a bit like playing good golf, you never know how long it’s going to last!