Match Play as Co-Ed LPGA/PGA Tour Event

[BunkerShot]

Yes, I'm a fan of match play. here's why I think it would make a great PGA/LPGA event.

I know the first argument is men and distance off the tee. but lets face it. There are only about 5 PGA players that are Consistently Long AND Straight off the tee. the majority of LPGA players are shorter in distance but consistently in the fairway. so the split there is 60/40. This turns into fairway then green play, where skill not distance rules and often times wins tourneys. Since it's only 18 not 54, the energy and intensity level will be up.

Play hard and good for 18 or go home. Aside from the driving distance mismatch, the flat stick and keeping it fair, has and will be the big decider.

32 PGA, 32 LPGA pairings should be a lottery (ie, pick a number, you might get a PGA/PGA match up or coed. Matters not, game on.

I think it would make for great golf and be great for fans of both associations.

Note, not trying to start an argument, just my thoughts on the possibility of seeing some great golfers from both associations go head to head.

[Shorty]

I would think that there would be zero interest in watching men play v women.

What would be the reason for it?

One thing that is certain is that the players wouldn't be interested.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by BunkerShot

I know the first argument is men and distance off the tee. but lets face it. There are only about 5 PGA players that are Consistently Long AND Straight off the tee. the majority of LPGA players are shorter in distance but consistently in the fairway. so the split there is 60/40.

You're vastly under-estimating how much farther men hit the ball than women.

Quite honestly you'd see players with seven or eight club differences into the greens. Men would be hitting wedges and women would be hitting 3-hybrids.

A men-women match play would be boring as heck, and nobody would stand to gain anything by it. The men wouldn't want to risk losing to the women and the women would get creamed.

[BunkerShot]

Originally Posted by iacas

You're vastly under-estimating how much farther men hit the ball than women.

Quite honestly you'd see players with seven or eight club differences into the greens. Men would be hitting wedges and women would be hitting 3-hybrids.

A men-women match play would be boring as heck, and nobody would stand to gain anything by it. The men wouldn't want to risk losing to the women and the women would get creamed.

Just had my wife and several other golfing friends agree with your third point.  Well here's a thread headed for the waste bin.  Thanks for the reply

[JoshKeller]

I think it would be decent to watch an alternate shot format. Pga player teams with a lpga player and they compete against another man/woman pro team. Alternate shot.

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by JoshKeller

I think it would be decent to watch an alternate shot format. Pga player teams with a lpga player and they compete against another man/woman pro team. Alternate shot.

They already do a PGA/LPGA team event, with a Champions tour player as a 3rd member. Everybody plays from different tees, IIRC. Could do the same thing with a man vs woman event as the OP proposed (that is, men play from longer tees than women to even things up.)  Personally I think it would be interesting.  "Battle of the Sexes" types of events are not unprecedented.

[jamo]

I think a tournament with a 32-man bracket and a 32-woman bracket (separate) might work, but I don't think any of these options are better than the current one.

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by iacas

You're vastly under-estimating how much farther men hit the ball than women.

Quite honestly you'd see players with seven or eight club differences into the greens. Men would be hitting wedges and women would be hitting 3-hybrids.

A men-women match play would be boring as heck, and nobody would stand to gain anything by it. The men wouldn't want to risk losing to the women and the women would get creamed.

This... Plus none of the top players from the PGA would play in it so there would be nothing to gain for anyone including sponsors.

[x129]

Make it 50k to show up, 100k if you win the first match, 200k second, and a million if you win the final I bet a bunch of the top guys would give it a whirl. Obviously coming up with a 10 million or so purse would take some work.

Originally Posted by clubchamp

This... Plus none of the top players from the PGA would play in it so there would be nothing to gain for anyone including sponsors.

[newtogolf]

From a fan standpoint it might be fun to watch as a one day tournament, but for the PGA and LPGA players I can't either one being thrilled with it.  The women don't want to be shown up by the men, and the men won't want to be in a situation where they hit a drive shorter than a woman.

There's a reason why the WNBA and NBA all stars don't compete.  Tennis has tried it a few times with Bobby Riggs and Jimmy Conners.  I think most recently, the Williams sisters challenged any male pro outside the top 200 to a tennis match and lost 6-1, 6-2 to 203rd ranked Karstan Braasch.

I do like the alternating shot format, that would be more fun and would not as threatening to either side.

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by x129

Make it 50k to show up, 100k if you win the first match, 200k second, and a million if you win the final I bet a bunch of the top guys would give it a whirl. Obviously coming up with a 10 million or so purse would take some work.

Maybe some but I still don't think it would draw many of the top players since you pretty much get a million for winning any tournament. 50 to 100k wouldn't be much to draw guys that are already bringing home 15+ million a year. Plus I'm not sure money would be the main factor a lot of the top players don't show up but more of the fact they have nothing to gain from it.

[x129]

Change it to 5 million (from 2 ) for the win if that makes you feel better about the numbers. The point is golfers will do stuff for cash which is why you have guys jetting around to asia in the fall every year. Make it a big enough TV event and their sponsers will ask them to show up. Heck award world golf rankings points if you want.

Personally I think it would suck. When a woman won everyone would say it is because of the shorter tees.

Originally Posted by clubchamp

Maybe some but I still don't think it would draw many of the top players since you pretty much get a million for winning any tournament. 50 to 100k wouldn't be much to draw guys that are already bringing home 15+ million a year. Plus I'm not sure money would be the main factor a lot of the top players don't show up but more of the fact they have nothing to gain from it.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by x129

Change it to 5 million (from 2 ) for the win if that makes you feel better about the numbers. The point is golfers will do stuff for cash which is why you have guys jetting around to asia in the fall every year. Make it a big enough TV event and their sponsers will ask them to show up. Heck award world golf rankings points if you want.

Personally I think it would suck. When a woman won everyone would say it is because of the shorter tees.

If they're going to ignore the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii they aren't going to play in a tournament against women. No point. And, because there'd be no interest, who's putting up the money anyway? Where's the return on their investment? The LPGA is losing tournaments and there are problems with PGA tour sponsorships, so it's not going to happen.

Once again....why would it be interesting?

It's a no win situation for the men and women.