Author: Kevin Roberts
From time past, golf has always been considered a game for men. However, it has continued to evolve, allowing women to participate.
The first golf event took place in Scotland. It was in 1857 when a group of women from the then St. Andrews Ladies’ Club came together to set up an exclusive women’s golf club.
Despite this achievement at the time, women are yet to take center stage, as men dominate golf to date. However, there is no doubt that the foundations laid by the early pioneers have continued to yield fruits, although not as fast as expected.
Today, many professional women’s golf tournaments are available worldwide, including a dedicated PGA (Professional Golf Championship). Even more, there has been a significant barrier shift, breaking the barrier that prevents women from participating in men’s tournaments.
Considering that male athletes earn more than women across different sports, it is unsurprising to see that women find it more rewarding to participate in the Men’s Golf Tournament. This article explores some women golfers who have made their mark in such tournaments.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
This may have been a long time ago, but the world of women’s golf tournaments would be incomplete without mentioning Babe Didrikson. She was unique, excelling in golf and other sports like track and field, baseball, and basketball. She participated in seven PGA tours and made it to the 36-hole cut at the Phoenix Open and Tucson Open in 1945.
Babe’s heroics continue to pave the way for women in today’s world of professional golf competitions. Her influence cuts across different activities, including boosting women’s participation in sports, and influencing the overall popularity of women’s golf competitions across different sectors. For instance, on most of the platforms you find on https://www.gamblingsites.com/offshore/sportsbooks/, women’s golf competitions have become very popular for wagering. Players can now stake on women participating in these competitions and other golf tours, providing more betting options.
Annika Charlotta Sorenstam
Annika Sorenstam is one of the best female golfers in history. As of 2008, she had the most wins (96) in any international professional tournament. She won 10 major titles, 72 LPGA, and 24 international tournaments.
The peak of her career was in 2003. She won her first and only career grand slam, winning all four major tournaments that year. Annika went further to break the mold in 2023 as she became the first female to participate in a PGA event after 58 years. She failed to progress to the next round by four strokes.
However, the goal was already achieved by her participation in the tournament. While it sparked widespread interest, it emphasized the need for gender equality in sports. Annika will continue to be remembered as one of the most successful and decorated female golfers who paved the way for women to be more adventurous in a sport primarily dominated by men.
Lexi Thompson
Alexis Noel Thompson was a gem who took the world of women’s golf by storm at the tender age of 12. In 2007, she became the youngest to qualify and participate in the US Women’s Open and eventually won her first LPGA at age 16. Lexi won 11 LPGA Tour honors, 2 Ladies European Tour, and 1 LPGA Japan Tour.
Lexi’s first participation in the men’s PGA Tour was in 2023. It was the Shriners Children’s Open. She fell short of qualification by three strokes, making her the seventh woman to take that bold step in any men’s major competition. She continues to inspire other women to showcase their potential to attain even higher heights in the world of golf.
Courtesy to Kevin Roberts
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