“That’s (BS), isn’t it?” CME CEO criticizes tape-delayed coverage of Saturday’s third round
NAPLES, Fla. — A Day to Remember at Pelican Golf Club
The atmosphere at Pelican Golf Club on November 13 was electric. Fans packed the fairways and greens, rows deep, while autograph seekers roamed in search of their favorite stars. But this wasn’t during one of the four tournament days of The Annika LPGA event, nor was it for Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, or Lydia Ko.
This was Wednesday—pro-am day—and the spotlight was on Caitlin Clark, one of the world’s most recognizable female athletes and a basketball sensation.
The Indiana Fever star played 18 holes alongside Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam, captivating the crowd and stealing the show. LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan described Clark and Korda as “two of the biggest superstars in women’s sports.” Yet, it’s clear that Clark, who revolutionized women’s basketball at Iowa before transitioning to the WNBA, has transcended sports.
Her presence highlighted the growing appeal of women’s sports and underscored the LPGA Tour’s opportunities to expand its audience.
The Need for More Visibility
Despite the LPGA’s record-breaking achievements—such as Nelly Korda’s seventh win of the season and record-setting prize purses—players and sponsors believe there’s significant room for growth, particularly in TV coverage.
“I think women’s sports are on an incredible trajectory,” said Lexi Thompson. “Our TV coverage has increased, but there’s still so much more potential. There are so many talented players and inspiring stories that can bring in a larger fan base.”
The season-ending CME Group Championship, starting Thursday at Tiburón Golf Club, boasts a $4 million winner’s prize—the largest in women’s golf history. Yet, Saturday’s third round will not air live. Instead, it will be tape-delayed on Golf Channel from 4–7 p.m., with live streaming available on NBCSports.com from 2–5 p.m.
Title Sponsor Calls for Change
Terry Duffy, Chairman and CEO of CME Group, expressed his frustration with the tape-delayed broadcast of such a prestigious event.
“That’s inappropriate for a tournament of this magnitude,” Duffy said. “If we want to grow women’s sports, we need to give them equal billing and stop prioritizing men’s tournaments. It’s time for primetime TV.”
Even players like Korda are advocating for greater exposure. “We need more hours on primetime TV,” said Korda, who clinched the 2024 Rolex Player of the Year award. “We have an incredible product with so many amazing stories, but we need better visibility.”
Korda recently participated in a Sports Illustrated photo shoot for the 2025 Swimsuit Edition to raise the LPGA’s profile. “It was an exciting opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and show a different side of myself,” Korda said.
Building on Momentum
Commissioner Marcoux Samaan emphasized the LPGA’s progress during her State of the Tour address, noting the tour’s prize money for 2025 will exceed $131 million, a 75-year high and a $62 million increase over the past four years.
“We’re proud of our role in elevating women’s sports,” Marcoux Samaan said. “I think we’re experiencing enormous growth.”
However, some players remain unconvinced. “We’ve made progress, but there’s still so much more we can do,” Thompson said.
The LPGA is riding a wave of growing popularity in women’s sports, driven by stars like Caitlin Clark and Nelly Korda. While the strides made are significant, the call for equal visibility remains a rallying cry as the tour looks to capture even greater momentum.
