As LIV Golf continues to battle the PGA Tour for popularity, luring some of the top golfers in the world, the inclusion of a women’s league seems to be on the table for the future.
LIV Golf held its inaugural season in 2022 with some of the biggest names on the PGA Tour joining the startup golf league. Led by chairman Greg Norman, LIV Golf pulled in names like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed with massive payouts and contracts that the PGA Tour couldn’t match.
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As LIV officials continue to explore ways to expand the growing league, it’s clear that the possibility of creating a women’s league is on the table. While there is no definitive timeline for when it would happen, Norman told reporters this past week that he and his colleagues have discussed the inclusion of women with a new league.
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“We talk about it internally, and I have had discussions with individual lady players, professional players.”
LIV Golf chairman Greg Norman on the possibility of a women’s league (H/T Front Office Sports)
While LIV Golf faced significant pushback from the PGA Tour, highlighted by the ongoing legal battle that LIV isn’t winning, there might not be nearly as much pushback from the LPGA.
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As highlighted by Front Office Sports, LPGA officials have been far more receptive to the potential involvement of LIV. While there are still no certainties the two leagues would work together, LIV would at least seemingly not face as many legal hurdles with the LPGA as the PGA Tour is giving them right now.
LPGA commissioner told The Times in July 2022 that she would “engage in a conversation” with LIV Golf if it helped promote the women’s game. Feedback from the top LPGA players would be imperative, as would the interest of sponsors’ willingness to be tied to LIV.
In terms of which players from the LPGA that LIV would pursue, it stands to reason the focus would be some of the top players in the women’s world golf rankings.
Lydia Ko, the best women’s golfer in 2023, told Golf.com this past week that the idea of LIV Golf even having a women’s league hadn’t crossed her mind until she was asked about it by reporters. Nelly Korda, the No. 2 golfer in the women’s world rankings, offered a similar level of uncertainty when asked about the possibility of being involved with LIV.
“Right now that’s kind of speculation. As a player, I don’t really know and that is not in my hands. That’s for the tour commissioner.”
Nelly Korda on the possibility of LIV Golf creating a women’s league
For now, LIV Golf is focused on its legal battle with the PGA Tour and increasing its popularity and television audience in the years to come. However, the ongoing discussions about creating a women’s league suggest the idea could become reality in the future.
