Happy New Year! I don’t make resolutions, but perhaps I should, especially as far as golf is concerned. It’s definitely a good idea to have goals so you have a focus. I must admit, now the weather has turned for the worse, I am not inclined to get out on the course and this got me thinking about the reasons why I play golf.
PGA professional Emma Booth referenced this in a recent article for Golf Monthly - 7 tips to deliver success in 2025. If you ask yourself this question, it does help to gain clarity and understanding of what motivates you. For me, obviously it’s playing golf in a warm climate!
Of course, it’s not just that - I enjoy the challenge of chasing a good score, there’s nothing better than the feeling of hitting a great shot or sinking a long putt, and I truly value my golfing friends. But I really do need to find the motivation to practice to achieve good scores because they’re not going to come out of nowhere! I realise that I can’t tell you all the things you should be doing at the golf range when I’m sitting on my backside!
Last weekend when the temperature was below freezing, I couldn’t believe that women on our Saturday golf Whatsapp group were even contemplating playing 9 holes. However, I did go to watch Spurs v Newcastle in a freezing cold stadium wearing six layers and putting my new rechargeable handwarmers to the test! That was my choice, so although I keep telling myself I want to prioritise golf this year, deep down I wonder how much I am really committed to improving. I probably said the same thing this time last year, so it will be interesting to see how this year pans out.
Anyway, I’m sure we’re all in for a fun year on and off the golf course. On the pro scene, the LPGA season kicks off two weeks later than last year at the end of January, while the first Ladies European Tour event takes place the first week of February. It’s great to see both tours benefiting from increased prize funds in 2025. The LPGA is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with a record-breaking $131 million purse - an increase of nearly 90% in just four years. On the Ladies European Tour, Golf Saudi’s expanded support for the Aramco Team Series has elevated the total prize fund to $13 million - up $3 million from last year.
Yes, the disparity in prize money between men’s and women’s tours is still glaring. Scottie Scheffler earned over $29 million in 2024, compared to Nelly Korda’s $4 million. But let’s not forget, the roots of the modern PGA Tour stretch back to 1916, while the LPGA is still young in comparison. When we look at the progress made by the LPGA and LET over the past five years, there’s much to celebrate. While change may not happen overnight, women’s golf is steadily chipping away at long-standing barriers and moving in the right direction.
Happy golfing!
Alison Root
Women's Editor Golf Monthly